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Will Howard and Rudd Back FAMILY FIRST’s Plan To Tackle Binge Drinking

Press Releases August 21 2007

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New laws will tackle the alcohol toll and reinforce a responsible drinking culture

Family First will introduce new laws to promote responsible drinking and counter the binge drinking culture when Parliament sits next month.

“Family First will take positive action to address the problem of alcohol abuse in Australia by placing greater control on advertising and introducing health information labels”, Family First leader Steve Fielding said today.

“Australia has taken action on the road toll and the tobacco toll. It is now time to tackle the alcohol toll.

“The statistics on binge drinking are horrifying:
• 450 000 children under 12 are at risk of being exposed to binge drinking in their home by a parent or other adult, according to the Australian National Council on Drugs;
• 35 per cent of Australians drink at levels that risk short-term harm and 10 per cent at levels that risk long-term harm, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; and,
• Alcohol is at the top of the list of drugs people seek treatment for, according to the Institute.

“Family First has met with the Prime Minister’s Office, the Health Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to discuss the alcohol toll and ways to address the problem. Family First has also consulted with alcohol harm-prevention groups.

“Family First’s law will focus on three areas:
• Ensuring television alcohol advertising runs after 9pm to stop the marketing of alcohol to young people;
• Ensuring all alcohol advertising is pre-approved by a government body rather than the existing industry self-regulation; and,
• Putting health information labels on all alcohol.”