“So called ‘light alcohol’ – in this case $10 bottles of booze with alcohol rates of 23 percent which are anything but light – is easily afforded by under-age drinkers and is causing huge problems,” Mr Adams said.

The excise duty threshold for spirits applies at 24 percent alcohol.

In questioning Justice Minister Phil Goff in Parliament today, Mr Adams asked if the Government thought enough was being done to curb under-age drinking, and challenged it to change the excise duty on these drinks to make them much less attractive to young people.

“We had yet another tragedy at the weekend – this time in Whangarei. It’s time we got serious about dealing with teen alcohol abuse, Mr Adams said later.

He said there was vast evidence, including Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) research, confirming the link between low prices and teen alcohol abuse.

“At least part of the answer is to make sure they simply can’t buy the quantities of this potent alcohol that they are buying,” he said.

Ends.