This week's closing date for submissions on the Alcohol Reform Bill marks the closing of a once-in-a-generation opportunity for New Zealanders to have their say on the future alcohol laws in this country.

'We are not going to get this again for another probably 20 years,” says Alcohol Action NZ member Clive James.

Submissions close this Friday, February 18.

More than 3000 people wrote submissions to the Law Commission review. The commission made several key recommendations, which the government is refusing to implement because of pressure from strong commercial interests, says Clive.

'It is trying to ‘buy off' critics by agreeing to implement minor and ineffectual changes as a ‘balanced response',” says Clive.

'At the same time though, the government says it is waiting for a ‘public signal'.”

Alcohol Action NZ is a national group established in 2009 by a small group of addiction treatment and public health professionals to communicate evidence-based information about alcohol and alcohol policy in New Zealand.

Because a large number of health professionals work for government-funded health boards, Clive says they are unable to use their jobs for 'political purposes”.

Alcohol Action NZ has grown to over 4000 and includes a full range of frontline workers in health, education, social care and justice, but increasingly involves ordinary New Zealanders, many of whom have been personally damaged by alcohol.

Alcohol Action's concern is the Alcohol Reform Bill will make no difference to New Zealand's heavy drinking.

The main concerns are that there is no commitment to raising the price of alcohol, significantly reducing the ever-present accessibility and advertising of alcohol, or putting an end to legal drunk driving, says Clive.

Drinking costs New Zealand about 20 lives a week and taxpayers over $14.5 million per week.

There are also wider human costs paid by victims of related domestic violence, poverty, addiction, rape, violence, theft and damage to personal health.

Alcohol is a Class B equivalent drug: it is addictive, causes aggression and depression, is carcinogenic, fattening, and causes brain damage and birth defects.

Like tobacco smoking, the heavy drinking culture can be dismantled, says Clive.

The World Health Organisation's policy directives include:

End ultra cheap alcohol, beginning with a minimum price for a standard drink.

Restore supermarkets to being alcohol free. Ban all alcohol advertising and sponsorship except objective printed information. End legal drunk driving by reducing the adult blood alcohol level to at least 0.05.

Information on making a submission is available at http://www.alcoholaction.co.nz

Submissions are sent to:

The Select Committee, Alcohol Reform Bill, Private Bag, 18888 Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160