By Tuesday, 30 September 2025, 10:51 Am Press Release: Health Coalition Aotearoa
Copyright scoop
Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) and partner
organisations have sent an open
letter to the Prime Minister, Ministers
and senior health officials – urging them to protect alcohol
harm reduction policies from alcohol industry interference.
The call comes as part of HCA’s
campaign to regulate lobbying
Health Coalition Aotearoa and
partners have urged the Government to protect alcohol harm
reduction policies from industry influence, warning that
letting the alcohol industry shape policy undermines the
health and wellbeing of New Zealand communities.
were 65 organisations who signed the letter including the
Cancer Society New Zealand, NZ Council of Trade Unions,
several schools and city missions, Public Health
Association, Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand,
University of Otago Department of Public Health, the NZ Drug
Foundation and Women’s Refuge NZ.
In the open letter
sent today to the Prime Minister and senior Ministers, HCA
said alcohol is the most harmful drug in Aotearoa New
Zealand. Evidence shows reducing harm requires lowering
consumption – an outcome directly at odds with the alcohol
industry’s core business of maximising sales.
Zealanders deserve policies that put people’s health ahead
of industry profits,” said HCA Co-Chair Professor Lisa Te
Morenga. “We have international evidence, strong public
support, and a clear mandate to keep vested interests out of
the room when health policy is being made.”
recent survey found 71% of New Zealanders agree the alcohol
industry should have no role in developing government
policies on alcohol. The World Health Organization has also
recognised industry interference as a major obstacle to
effective alcohol harm reduction,” said HCA Co-Chair
Professor Boyd Swinburn.
HCA is calling on
Government to:
Exclude the alcohol
industry from the early development and decision stages of
alcohol harm reduction policies.Allow the industry
to submit views only through public consultation processes,
on the same footing as the public.Enhance
transparency by keeping a public record of all industry
meetings and communications with Ministers and officials, as
is already required for tobacco.
“These changes
are simple, fair, and overdue. They will help create
healthier, safer, and fairer communities where families and
whānau can thrive,” said Professor Te Morenga.
open letter is part of HCA’s
campaign to regulate lobbying , which seeks to
protect public policy from vested
© Scoop Media
