Auckland’s Anglican leader says Parliament needs to show stronger leadership if it’s serious about taming alcohol abuse.

The Anglican Bishop of Auckland, the Rt Rev Ross Bay, says he welcomes “any moves by the government to address the national crisis of binge drinking.”

But he doesn’t believe the moves foreshadowed by the Minister of Justice Simon Power go far enough.

MPs will now have a conscience vote on the question of raising the legal drinking age – but Bishop Ross says that’s a poor alternative to showing “strong leadership and cross-party agreement.”

“Parliament needs to act and show leadership on such a significant issue, “ he says.

Bishop Ross has spoken out before about his concerns about the drinking behaviour of some New Zealanders – and he considers that lowering the legal drinking age in 1999 has been a big factor in the youth alcohol problem.

Bishop Ross says he is pleased to see some of the changes recommended by the Law Commission being treated as government policy. 

“Legislation will not fully solve the problem,” he says, “but it can send a strong signal to society that it is time to change attitudes.

“MPs can provide leadership on this and vote as a unified body rather than turning to a conscience vote for the proposed age split regarding the purchase of alcohol.”

The Bishop supports the Alcohol Action New Zealand 5+ proposal as evidence-based solutions to the alcohol crisis.

The Auckland Diocesan Synod meets from September 2-4 and one of the motions for debate is for parishes and ministry units to be involved in the 5+ campaign.