Summarised by Centrist
A police study attributes rising violence and assaults in Wellington to the prevalent practice of ‘pre-loading’ on cheap alcohol before heading out.
Breath levels recorded reached up to roughly six times the legal driving limit.
The study notes the affordability of preloading, particularly with alcohol purchased from supermarkets.
“The role of price as a key motivator of pre-loading showcases the importance of alcohol pricing policies that effectively target the high affordability of off-licence alcohol products,” the study states.
It suggests raising alcohol prices, increasing the legal purchase age from 18 to 20, and restricting alcohol advertising.
An independent review suggested raising the alcohol levy to collect $37m, which would have added just half a cent per can of beer. However, in June, the government decided to collect only $16m, even though alcohol now causes over $9b in social harm in New Zealand, more than 20 times the cost of meth.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell acknowledged the issue, stating, “We haven’t got it right as a society, when you look at what is happening and the amount of alcohol-related harm we still have to deal with.”
The study also draws on previous research showing that incidents of alcohol harm peak between 3 AM and 4 AM and nearly three quarters of women “felt unsafe in Wellington City after dark”.
