Everywhere I go the misuse of alcohol stares me in the face. In my days as a car dealer drink was the most common reason for families, unable to keep up their payments, losing their car. Regularly men ask me for money and I find it is to fuel their drinking habit. Violence, marital disharmony and tragic family circumstances too are products of alcohol abuse.

What is encouraging are the groups who support those who are addicted and are desperate enough to seek help. But beating the booze is an uphill battle both for those who are addicted and those who want to help because our society glamorises the bottle. We advertise it (something that was previously prohibited) and now present it as a thing real men do. The consequences are obvious on every hand.

The Ministry of Transport reports that in 2010, crashes involving drugs/alcohol claimed 142 deaths, with over 2000 injuries that had a social price tag of about $898 million. But the carnage on the roads is only the tip of the iceberg. Local communities are forced to have drink free zones. Police tell us that violent offending, crime and domestic incidents are commonly fueled by alcohol. Most families are affected by alcohol misuse.

Whilst there are diverging views on how to address the misuse of alcohol, one thing is agreed. It is an addictive drug and its misuse dogs society at every level. It is a blight on our society.

The Government’s Alcohol Reform Bill provides an opportunity to restore the drinking age to 20 which would be a positive step to take. This will be decided by a conscience vote.

List MPs are free to vote as they deem prudent but electorate MPs choose whether they reflect their own feelings or the feelings of the electorate they represent. The New Zealand Herald (May 11) reported that Prime Minister, John Key, in 2004 voted against the Civil Union Bill because of the demand from his electorate, so no doubt, on the issue of the drinking age, he will again be sensitive to the wishes of his electorate.

Whilst we look for the Government to make decisions that will help address the abuse of alcohol, we know that to turn the situation around we need to do our part.

As Christians we are called to identify the things that may be quite legitimate in themselves but which put others at risk. Alcohol certainly falls into this category. As an 18-year-old I asked myself, if I could, in good conscience, consume alcohol knowing that it put other young people at risk, or choose to leave it completely alone.

I chose the latter and have never regretted it.