Associate Health Minister Nicole McKee is talking nonsense when she says most of us who drink alcohol do it responsibly. 

If she really believes that, then she needs to get out more often. 

But I don’t think there’s much we can do about it because when it comes to alcohol, the horse has already bolted. 

She made the comment when she announced changes that will stop people opposing liquor licence applications if they don’t live in the area, allow hairdressers to serve alcohol without a licence, and let pubs and clubs operate outside trading hours during major televised events.  

Changes that have the alcohol lobby delighted and health campaigners despairing.  

The one change they aren’t making —which was on the cards— is a limit on the hours alcohol can be sold at supermarkets and bottle stores. They looked into stopping sales after 9 o’clock at night, but decided not to.  

Not that that will change things in Christchurch and Auckland where the councils have already decided to do what the Government has decided not to do.  

Either way, the reason the Government is giving for not cracking down on alcohol sales at supermarkets and bottle stores is that most of us who drink can control ourselves and “drink responsibly”.  

If that was the case, then why are alcohol-related cancers on the rise? Because we drink responsibly? No.  

If Nicole McKee is correct, why is it that alcohol is estimated to cost the country $9.1 billion in harm every year? Because those of us who drink, drink responsibly? No.   

I think the Minister is just saying it for the sake of saying it.  

Alcohol Healthwatch executive director Andrew Galloway is one of the people not happy with the Government.  

He says there is clear evidence that reducing access to alcohol reduces harm.  

He says: “More than likely, if anyone's going shopping for booze after 9pm at night, it's to top up.” Pointing to the most recent New Zealand health survey which showed that one-in-six adults —or 720,000 people— have what it called “hazardous drinking patterns”. 

Alcohol is also estimated to cost the country $9.1 billion in harm every year and is responsible for 129,000 ACC claims. 

You’re not going to hear me arguing against those numbers because they are reality. You’re also not going to hear me arguing that the Government isn’t doing enough to deal with the alcohol problem. 

Because I don’t think it can. Because, when it comes to alcohol, the horse has already bolted.