Prof Jennie Connor - who has long campaigned to highlight the harmful effects of alcohol - said in an editorial drinking was price sensitive and the Government could reduce problem drinking by raising taxes,
However, if any such tax rise was delayed, trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPATPP) could be signed beforehand.
"Provisions in the previous version of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement would have made it impossible for the government of any partner country to introduce regulation of the alcohol marketplace without being subject to litigation from alcohol corporations,'' Prof Connor wrote.
"New Zealand is currently engaged in negotiating new trade treaties with similar provisions. In order to effectively protect and improve health and welfare in New Zealand, we need the freedom to adopt healthy alcohol policy.''
Prof Connor said there had been no effective restraint on the commercial drivers of drinking for many years, and any reduction in the average volume or frequency of drinking would have health and social benefits.
"The pathological relationship we have with alcohol is actually between policy makers and alcohol companies, and it can be changed with political will,'' she said.
New Zealand Winegrowers Federation spokeswoman Amber Silvester said wine drinkers already paid $2.50 in tax on every bottle of wine - much more than in many other countries.
"The evidence clearly shows that when alcohol taxes are increased, consumption by responsible moderate drinkers is affected far more than that of heavy drinkers,'' she said.
Data from the Ministry of Health's 2016-17 New Zealand Health Survey showed the overall rate of hazardous alcohol consumption fell last year, from 20.8% to 19.5%, Ms Silvester said.
"There is no evidence that blunt instruments like tax increases help people make sensible drinking choices.
"Lasting generational change requires us to understand why drinkers are choosing to drink better, and reinforce those messages so that responsible drinking becomes the expected norm in our whole society.''
The NZMJ editorial comes days after the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists called for the Government to carry out an independent health impact assessment of the CPATPP.
Last year, various health sector organisations, including ASMS, the Nurses Organisation and the Medical Association, wrote to the then government pleading for a health assessment of any trade deal.
Their concern stems from intellectual property provisions anticipated to be in the agreement that could affect the cost of medicines.
"Senior doctors and dentists have previously expressed strong concerns about the likely impact of the TPPA, and we need to make sure that this is properly assessed,'' ASMS deputy executive director Angela Belich said.
Trade and export growth Minister David Parker could not be reached for comment.
