Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick's Alcohol Harm Minimisation bill would have banned alcohol sponsorship and advertising in sports. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick's Alcohol Harm Minimisation bill has failed at its first reading, after only a handful of Labour MPs voted for it.
The bill would have banned alcohol sponsorship and advertising in sports.
National and ACT voted against the bill as blocs, but Labour treated it as a conscience issue, meaning MPs were free to vote however they wanted.
However the bill failed 85 votes to 29 - with just 17 Labour MPs supporting it.
The government has already planned to adopt one part of the bill, which will abolish the Special Appeals process from Local Alcohol Policies, so councils have more power to control alcohol sales, trading hours, and locations.