Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall is carrying out a txt survey to find out what constituents think about raising the legal purchasing age of alcohol from 18 to 20.
Tony Ryall.
Although he regularly carries out surveys, this is the first time Tony is using txt messaging as a method.
Parliament will soon vote on whether the legal purchase age for buying alcohol should rise to 20 or remain at 18.
MPs will have the opportunity to cast a conscience vote on the issue, rather than having to vote according to official party lines.
'In light of the Canterbury earthquake and the recession it's probably not the top of mind issue for many New Zealanders, but for many people they will have a view of what the purchase age for alcohol should be, and this is an opportunity to let me know as their local MP what they think it should be.”
It is Tony's personal view that the age should be lifted to 20.
'But I'm there to represent the views of the voters and I'm interested to see what sort of results we get from the txts,” says Tony.
'It might be a different result we get from the normal surveys we mail out because the young people might respond a bit more.”
People wanting to participate in the survey can txt ‘TONY YES' and your full name or ‘TONY NO' and your full name to 244. Normal txt charges apply.
7 comments
predictable
Posted on 27-02-2011 15:32 | By morepork
Given that the chosen medium for the survey is the preferred communication method for the 18 - 20 age group, how can this NOT skew the results? Can you see 18 year olds voting for the age to be raised to 20? This is not a genuine attempt to get an unbiased opinion from the community as a whole (if it were, then votes by email, mail, and text woud be solicited), it is a politician trying to raise his "brand awareness" amongst a particular sector of the voting public. The results of this poll will be statistically worthless (hopelessly skewed by the medum used) and completely predictable.
Cruzdreama
Posted on 27-02-2011 15:59 | By dreamingofacruise
Tried the texting and it didn't work. It just kept coming back as an error
Predictable all right
Posted on 27-02-2011 17:01 | By KiwiSteve
I agree with morepork. A politician wouldn't have the clues to work that out!
Figures
Posted on 27-02-2011 19:01 | By dgk
Doesn't work. Not surprising really...
Polit spin
Posted on 28-02-2011 10:20 | By SpeakUp
Clever marketing via a cunning concept delivering nothing but baloney. Tony, do you really think people are THAT stupid?
Txt is but one tool
Posted on 01-03-2011 00:36 | By Murray.Guy
The younger and or more techno saffy are usually left out of the loop, especially if it affects them directly. A TXT is just one tool in a suite of tools being used, so will provide a more balanced feedback, certainly not skewed!
prosecute
Posted on 16-03-2011 18:00 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Whats wrong with just prosecuting people who break the law instead of foisting your bans on all and sundry. It is Tonys PERSONAL VIEW. A prime example of a bureacrat Bereft of principles. Happy to foist his personal opinion on others instead of minding his own business and letting others mind theirs.
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