Dylan Firth: Brewers Association Executive Director says blanket ban on high strength beers would be overreach

There are doubts that high-strength beers are causing as much harm as critics say.  

The products are sold as singles in supermarkets and liquor stores and are stronger than RTDs, ranging from seven to 16 percent.  

'Communities Against Alcohol Harm' has been raising the issue at a number of public hearings - calling for a ban.  

But Brewers Association Executive Director Dylan Firth says a blanket ban would be an overreach.  

He says, if there are specific problems, they can be imposed on the licenses of each product. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right now. Now, let's have a chat about alcohol. Supermarkets
and bottle shops are under fire for selling high strength beers.
Now these days you can find beers on the shelf
that actually go up to past sixteen percent alcohol by volume.
A group called Communities Against Alcohol Harm have called on
the government to ban those high strength beers from sale sale.
Dylan Firth is the executive director of the Brewers Association

(00:22):
and with us.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Hi, Dylan, you know high here for how you going?

Speaker 1 (00:25):
I'm well, thank you? Is there a problem here or
nothing to see?

Speaker 2 (00:28):
No, I don't think banning something is kind of a
bit of a jump in this incidences. You know, we
look at the kind of stronger beer sector and we
see the volumes that are actually be sold compared to
you know, most beer in New Zealand, and it is
a really small proportion, you know, acting strong beers. It's
over five percent, so you know, some of the lower
stuff and there quite a lot of craft as well
can be up to you know, ten eleven percent. So

(00:49):
you know, banning something really removes a whole lot of
different variety in what consumers have as choice. There's a
number of other products as strong such as spirits, and
wine as well that you get that are readily available.
I think it's a bit of a jump, but you know,
we also have to acknowledge that these individual licenses go
through the licensing process. You know, there's conditions that can
be put on them. There are other means to kind

(01:10):
of address some of the issues if there are concerns
about specific areas.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
Tell me how much does one of these strong beers cost?

Speaker 2 (01:18):
Oh, look, it really depends on the products. There's loads
of different stuff. You know, if you're looking at a
like a nine percent stout from a craft brewer, it
could be anywhere from ten to fifteen dollars. There's a
cheaper beers that are available, you know, seven, eight, nine dollars,
but not for those really strong ones. I wouldn't be
that lower than me.

Speaker 1 (01:36):
I mean because still in part of their argument is
that what they're worried about is young people going and
buying a couple of these beers and getting absolutely smashed.
But that doesn't make any sense to me, because a
bottle of wine is quite a bit stronger than these beers,
and you can buy a bottle of wine for about
fifteen bucks, so you know, you might if you outlaw
these beers kids just going to do the wine instead,
aren't they?

Speaker 2 (01:56):
Well, I think, you know, you've got to look at
it reality. You know, how many people are actually just
looking specifically for this bang for buck type thing. And
I don't think it's a huge amount. You know, there
might be some people out there has the drinking behaviors.
And you know, overall we are seeing that decline. In
New Zealand, the hazard of drinking volumes that are measured
by a Ministry of Health are at their lowest ever level,
you know. And so and also overall alcohol consumption has

(02:17):
been declining, you know, by thirty thirty percent in the
last thirty years. So, like you know, trends that are changing.
You know, if you're pointing out one individual thing, well
you can, as I said, you know, looking at the
licensing opportunities, you can really address it specifically in there.

Speaker 1 (02:30):
Why is it that someboers end up so strong?

Speaker 2 (02:33):
Oh? Look, I mean as people look for different things.
Some people enjoy two and a half percent ber, some
people look for a sixss in beer. There's quite a
big flavor profile and alcohol itself. Yeah, so that actually
changes things. You know, there's different styles that go better
with a stronger flavor. West Coast i pas are particularly
strong style some of there's some Halvier double i pas
things like that, So you know, it depends on it.

(02:55):
You know, that's the whole thing about having choice and options,
and if we're trying to reduce hard I think there's
definitely other ways to take with.

Speaker 1 (03:01):
Good on youre Dylan, Thanks very much, Dylan Firth, Brewers Association,
Executive directed.

Speaker 2 (03:05):
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.