Milk-Based Alcoholic Beverages
Reverend the Hon. Dr GORDON MOYES: I ask the Special Minister of State, representing the Minister for Health, a question without notice. Is alcoholic flavoured milk with names like ‘Moo Joose’, ‘Kahlua and Milk’, and ‘Vodka Mudshake’, packaged in takeaway ready-to-drink direct form, proposed for sale? Did the Victorian Minister for Consumer Affairs announce on 17 April laws to ban the sale of alcohol-based milk products in that State? Does the Minister agree that milk-based alcoholic beverages pose a potential risk that encourages the misuse and abuse of alcohol, particularly by young people? Will the Minister inform the House what policies are in place to enable the Government to deal properly with this issue? What action does the Government intend to take should producers market alcoholic milk drinks in New South Wales?
The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: The honourable member asked an excellent question relating to community standards and the marketing of alcohol. Recently we debated in this House and in the other Chamber an issue relating to the marketing to young people of alcoholic iced drinks, which might encourage the misuse or abuse of alcohol. Some of the issues that the Government canvassed included the marketing and distribution of alcoholic beverages. That led to the Government taking the view that it should hold an Alcohol Summit to bring together those parties involved in the distribution of this legal, cultural but potentially dangerous product and all of the implications that that will have on government policy and society. The summit, which will be held in Parliament over four days, will commence on Tuesday 26 August and conclude on Friday 29 August.
The Premier has already announced that Dr Neal Blewett and Kerry Chikarovski will chair the summit, adopting the bipartisan format of previously successful programs. The focus of the summit is on alcohol abuse; we are obviously not just concerned with the consumption of alcohol. The issues raised earlier by Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes will be dealt with by that summit. Research indicates that the social cost of alcohol abuse to the economy and the taxpayer is significant: it is estimated at $7.5 billion. Some of the issues relating to personal difficulties and some of the other problems associated with the marketing to young people of alcohol-style products have less tangible but serious effects. I am not aware of the announcement made by the Victorian Minister for Consumer Affairs.
I will discuss this as a matter of urgency with my colleague the Minister for Fair Trading in the other place. We will review the specific products referred to by the honourable member in his question. There is a good deal of well-founded community concern about this issue—something that I do not want to overemphasise. Some of those who are responsible for the marketing of alcohol products are deliberately targeting young people and encouraging a view of alcohol that is unhealthy—that it is no different from drinking soft drinks or other forms of refreshment. The Government has to deal with these issues. This is the second occasion in less than 12 months that an alcoholic product has been targeted towards children. Similarly, the popularity of culturally acceptable so-called breezer drinks, which are favoured by many young women, could lead to alcohol misuse and abuse.
As I said earlier, I will discuss this matter with my colleague the Minister for Fair Trading and determine what action should be taken. This matter might also fall within the jurisdiction of the Minister for Gaming and Racing. The Government will be taking on board a number of issues. [Time expired.]
