Some Otago medical leaders are among more than 300 doctors
and nurses across the country who have signed a statement
calling for changes to the liquor laws.
They are supporting the "5+ solution".
The "5+ solution" would involve raising alcohol prices and
the purchase age; reducing alcohol accessibility, marketing
and advertising; increasing measures to stop drink-driving,
and improving access to treatment for heavy drinkers.
New Zealand president of the Royal Australasian College of
Physicians, Dr Geoffrey Robinson, said this unprecedented
stand by leading doctors and nurses was a reflection of the
deep concern held about the heavy drinking culture that
exists in New Zealand.
The review of the liquor laws by the New Zealand Law
Commission provided a unique opportunity for fundamental
change to the supply and sale of alcohol.
This was for the benefit of the country, Dr Robinson said.
The statement said alcohol was related to more than 60
medical conditions, and these resulted in more than 1000
deaths a year in New Zealand.
The sophisticated alcohol culture promised 20 years ago with
the Sale of Liquor Act had turned out to be more of an
"endemic heavy binge drinking culture".
This was causing widespread alcohol-related health and social
problems.
Alcohol needed to be more effectively regulated to bring
about change in the drinking culture in "exactly the same way
that tobacco has been slowly brought under better control",
the statement said.
Among those from Otago who signed the statement are New
Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses president Heather
Casey, the University of Otago's Dunedin School of Medicine
dean Prof John Adams and health researchers Dr Jennie Connor,
Assoc Prof Brian Cox and Prof Charlotte Paul; public health
physicians Dr Marion Poore and Dr John Holmes, oncologist
Assoc Prof David Perez, the Otago and Southland District
Health Boards' regional chief nursing and midwifery officer
Leanne Samuel, University of Otago head of general practice
and rural health Prof Jim Reid, Dunedin Hospital's acting
clinical leader (anaesthesia) Dr Paul Templer, paediatrician
Prof Barry Taylor, and New Zealand Nurses Organisation
chairwoman for the National Division of Infection Control
Nurses, Jo Stodart.
elspeth.mclean@odt.co.nz
