Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill (1)

The Mental Health Foundation supports a stronger regulatory approach to the sale and supply of alcohol as part of an effective response to preventing mental health and addiction challenges and promoting wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

While we welcome the amendments relating to the rapid delivery of alcohol and the supply of low-alcohol or similar drinks, overall, we oppose the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill. Most of its provisions aim to directly increase the availability of alcohol while restricting the ability of communities to intervene — disregarding a large body of public health evidence and undermining the harm prevention and minimisation objectives of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.