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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 3104 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

I remember the Blue Light discos. Although I never went to one, I knew of them. The Police and Citizens Youth Club used to run them. I understand that they are now finished, or there hardly ever is one, because young people prefer the so-called glamorous environment of a nightclub. When I have, on my investigations, as it were, gone to nightclubs, I have not found too much glamour about them. But young people seem to prefer that. The Blue Light discos and the school discos that still continue, I think, are a much better option. I have those grave concerns about encouraging people to think that going to a club is a natural and normal part of life. It may be, but I think there are other ways that young people can enjoy themselves.

Another recommendation, No. 5, calls on the Government to do more to "educate the consumer in the responsible consumption of alcohol". That is a very difficult ask of the Government; I have to acknowledge that. I am sure the Government would want to do that, but it is very difficult to educate the consumer. We would be looking to bring about a culture change. As I reflect over my years, it seems to me that binge drinking and the representation in the media of having fun as requiring the flowing of a lot of alcohol have increased a great deal. Perhaps my memory is deficient - I think there are times when it is - but I do not recall in my younger days that there was quite so much visual representation of the joys of unlimited alcohol flowing out of bottles and glasses. It is very difficult to effect a culture change, and I think that is what we must do in respect of alcohol.

Look at what has happened with smoking. Has there not been a culture change with that, and a change that is still being worked through? The public attitude to smoking now is very different to what it was not so many years ago, and I believe that that change will continue. Look also at the change that is now proceeding in respect of firearms. I believe that the community attitude in many quarters, certainly not in all, on the ownership and the use of firearms is changing. I have met people - and other members have, too - who say, "I have this shotgun; I have this weapon. It was given to me by my father, and I intend to hand it on to my son". There is that view, which I have never been part of, on firearms. But it is changing, and I hope it changes more in the future. Perhaps it is not too much to expect that we can bring about some change in the way the community views the use of alcohol - difficult as it is. I would never suggest that the Government would have an easy task in bringing about such a change, but it is something that must be attended to.

I know that in our schools, especially in primary schools, quite a degree of attention is paid to the dangers of alcohol. I would think, from my memory of my time as a teacher, that teachers have spent more time on the dangers of alcohol and of smoking than they have done in the past on hard drugs; and that is not surprising because, overall, they probably have a much greater impact. But we must move beyond schools in that difficult area of culture change. This report is perhaps just one very small approach towards making that change. I look forward to the Government's response in due course, as I think this Assembly would unite in working together to diminish, as far as we can, the abuses of alcohol.

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