Public health and alcohol policy should be recognised as fundamental to the wellbeing of whānau, Māori public health experts say.
Hāpai te Hauora Māori Public Health called for alcohol harm to be addressed and prioritised on Monday in response to new research by the University of Otago.
The research found alcohol was the most harmful drug for the total population, ahead of methamphetamine, synthetic cannabinoids and tobacco.
“Alcohol misuse is directly related to social stability, economic productivity, public safety, and the overall health of our communities,” Hāpai te Hauora chief executive Jason Alexander said.
“These issues are the very fabric of our society and all have one major issue at the core, and that is the impact of alcohol on whānau.”
Hāpai te Hauora regional lead Tara Dymus said the research highlights an urgent need for substantial policy changes to reduce alcohol’s impact on communities.
Alcohol Healthwatch
Māori health experts are calling on the Government to address alcohol-related harm on the back of new research that reveals it is the most harmful drug in Aotearoa.
“The rising numbers of drink-driving deaths and the confirmation of alcohol as our most harmful drug should serve as a stark wake-up call,” she said.
“Hāpai te Hauora emphasises that comprehensive alcohol law reform must encompass not only regulations on alcohol access but also broader social and health strategies. These include preventive measures, education, and mental health support.”
Deaths involving drink-driving in Aotearoa have doubled since 2013 and reached a 10-year peak in 2022, Waka Kotahi data released last week revealed.
“We are calling on the Government to take an active role in creating a safer, healthier Aotearoa, and we’re asking for everyone in the Beehive to start looking at how we can address this issue” Alexander said.
ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff
Justice Minister Kiritapu Allan says the Government is reforming the law to address alcohol-related issues raised by communities.
“Comprehensive alcohol reform isn’t a peripheral issue – it’s a matter of public health, social stability, and equity. It’s about prioritising the health and wellbeing of our people, and a matter of urgency for us as a nation.”
Minister of Justice Kiri Allan said the Government is making changes and reforming the law to address three persistent issues identified by local communities.
The issues she identified were the difficulties in adopting and applying local alcohol policies, the excessive limits placed on who can object to licence applications, and the legalistic and adversarial nature of alcohol licensing hearings.
