A new alcohol lobby group is promising to represent the average kiwi drinker.

Former Porirua Mayor, now lobbyist Nick Leggett is the executive director of The Alcohol Beverages Council.

He says there's widespread support for this group.

"Eighty percent of Kiwis enjoy a drink, and by far and away the majority of those people do it responsibly.

"Although that is forgotten often in the public debate."

He says alcohol is part of New Zealand's culture - and that doesn't have to be a bad thing.

Mr Leggett says he'll be pushing for better education around drinking.

"A lot of the statistics and a lot of the behaviours of New Zealanders have actually been improving over the last few decades.

"We don't often hear the truth about that in the public domain."

The group is funded by a range of businesses that sell liquor.

 LISTEN ABOVE AS NICK LEGGETT SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING