New Zealand parliament rejects raising drinking age

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Wednesday November 8, 2006

Wellington- About 125,000 New Zealanders aged 18 and 19 can continue to drink legally in bars and restaurants after Parliament voted 72-49 on Wednesday to reject a bill to raise the minimum age for buying alcohol to 20. The vote confirmed a decision in 1999 when it was reduced from 20 to 18, which is the age New Zealanders can vote, become a member of parliament, join the police force or army, have a legal same sex marriage or be a prostitute.

Voting on an individual conscience basis, free of direction by their political parties, Members of Parliament rejected a recommendation to raise the age by their law and order committee.

Supporters said that society had been paying for a failed experiment since 1999, with 18 to 19-year-olds now the country's heaviest drinkers and encouraging much younger children to drink.

But opponents said a higher age limit would not deal with the real issue in New Zealand, which was a national binge-drinking culture.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency