Not All Sweetness and Light

“The beautiful island nation of New Zealand hides something ugly beneath its lush exterior, hundreds of its children under the age of 16, some even as young as 9, are alcoholics,” Pamela Wallace reports for online magazine The Imperfect Parent. According to the Community Alcohol and Drug Services, the number of children being treated in the Auckland region alone grew by 2 per cent last year. To help combat the problem, MPs are considering widespread changes to the laws, especially those governing the age of legal alcohol purchase. The age for purchasing alcohol is currently 18, and the Ministers are considering changing that age to 2. Alcohol Healthwatch health promotion advisor Chris Rogan acknowledges the growing problem. Rogan said there are “a lot of families in a lot of pain.” “It’s sad and it’s frightening and it is so preventable,” he said.