Social Services seek better alcohol harm prevention

By CathNews New Zealand

June 5th, 2026

(Angie Garrett/Wikimedia Commons)

The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services has called for better protections for consumers and communities from alcohol-related harm than are currently proposed in a Bill before Parliament.

In a submission to Parliament’s Justice Committee on the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Regulation) Amendment Bill, the NZCCSS stated that the proposed changes focus on improving the provision of alcohol by businesses, with limited improvements in protecting consumers and communities.

The submission pointed to 2025 research that ranked New Zealand the lowest of 11 countries assessed for alcohol control policies.

The Bill’s explanatory note states that it will strengthen some areas to minimise harm while also providing for a fairer, more certain licensing process with benefits for businesses and consumers.

But the NZCCSS, which includes Catholic Social Services as a foundation member, said changes to the legislation overall are not in line with the expectations set out by the Government Policy Statement on Health 2024-2027, which sets an expectation for a reduction in the number of people engaging in hazardous drinking.

Rather, the changes in the Bill focus on “cutting red tape” for suppliers of alcohol, with little in the way of reducing risks for consumers and communities, the NZCCSS stated.

The submission noted that “The World Health Organisation SAFER Interventions recommend strengthening restrictions on alcohol availability, including avoiding extending the days and hours of alcohol sales, to reduce alcohol related harm”.

“We strongly recommend New Zealand’s national alcohol strategy (NAS) be updated in line with the WHO Safer framework, with all alcohol policy changes aligned with this,” the submission explained.

The NZCCSS also noted that, outside of so-called rapid deliveries of alcohol within two hours of ordering, there are no requirements in the Bill for deliveries of alcohol to be received by someone of legal age. This requirement should be extended to all deliveries, they argued. The submission also argued that digital ID should not be accepted as proof of age.

The submission also stated that Buy Now, Pay Later options for alcohol purchases are increasing alcohol-related harm, and therefore should be prohibited.

FULL STORY

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Regulation) Amendment Bill (NZCCSS/NZ Parliament)

Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill (NZ Parliament)

Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill (NZ Legislation)