The Seventh-day Adventist Church of New Zealand is taking a public stand in support of initiatives to dismantle New Zealand's heavy drinking culture.

The Church has specifically endorsed the 5+ Solution based on the WHO sponsored publication “Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity”.

Paul Rankin, Health Director for the Adventist Church, speaking on behalf of the 12,000 adult baptized church members in New Zealand, said the Church backs the Law Commission’s recommendations and is hopeful the government will act swiftly to enact them.

“The Church has a strong tradition of social concern and we are very alarmed about the increasing burden alcohol is putting on society” he said today.

“We are now speaking out because it is clear we are in the midst of a crisis that is causing major social, economic and health problems that are impacting everyone".

One of the 5+ strategies is increasing drink driving countermeasures which Mr Rankin says will not only reduce injury and save lives but will have a broader dampening effect on New Zealand’s heavy drinking culture.

“We are aware Cabinet is debating the issue of drink driving limits, so we really hope they will do the right thing that the majority of other similar countries as ours have done, including Australia, and reduce the allowable blood alcohol concentration”.

"We want to be clear about the reason we are getting involved here. Our church's position on social responsibility is a long held one. But we now have an alcohol crisis. Alcohol is an addictive, mind altering drug. Everyone knows that. Our concern is not about the rights and wrongs of the chemical itself. What is driving our public involvement in this issue is how we are allowing commercial forces to drive excessive consumption. "