LIQUOR LICENSING (SUPPLY TO MINORS) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 12 September 2013.)

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:29): I rise to speak to this Liquor Licensing (Supply to Minors) Amendment Bill introduced by the member for Morialta. I certainly share some of his concerns with regard to this bill. In the past the Labor government's response to problems caused by alcohol abuse has been very much focused on issues around licensed premises and problems associated sometimes with those premises. There has certainly been a very heavy emphasis on regulation fees and charges.

Given that most young people's initial experience of alcohol is in a domestic environment—and quite often it is not in their own domestic environment—the government's response does little to tackle the key factor promoting the culture of binge drinking amongst young people.

The harmful effects of any alcohol consumption on the physiology of children and teenagers is well established, particularly as a result of groundbreaking new work in the field of brain science in the last 20 years. It has been noted that 62 per cent of children aged 14 to 17 are consuming alcohol at some level, and 35 per cent of that group obtain it from their parents. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.