Alcohol harm is pricing the key?
Andrew Galloway doesn’t mince words: alcohol regulation in New Zealand is a joke. Alcohol is sold at "pocket money prices”, in every supermarket, and the current environment is a disaster for young people, dependent drinkers, and those trying to stay sober. He argues that we need tighter regulations—similar to what New Zealand considered for cannabis—to tackle alcohol harm effectively.
Galloway takes a "blue skies thinking" approach, advocating for borrowing successful models from other countries to better regulate alcohol in New Zealand. Take Canada for example, where the government controls alcohol sales and sets retail prices, effectively managing outlet density and marketing. There’s Scotland's minimum unit pricing, which prompted criticism due to COVID disruptions but showed undeniable evidence of reducing harm. He notes that despite this criticism, Scotland has not only retained but also increased the minimum unit price, further proving its effectiveness.
In 2014, New Zealand’s Ministry of Justice proposed an 82% tax hike on cheap alcohol. Galloway says it’s time to act on that recommendation. Raising the price from $7 to $8.20 per bottle would curb harm without affecting moderate drinkers. For Galloway, the message is clear: price is the most powerful tool we have to reduce alcohol-related harm, and we’re not using it enough.
Further Reading:
Alcohol Healthwatch NZ Road Map for Alcohol Pricing Policies 2020
