14 Mar 2011

Heated exchanged between National MP and doctors

9:25 pm on 14 March 2011

A Parliamentary Select Committee has been the scene of a heated exchangebetween the National Party MP, Paul Quinn, and a group of doctors over their approach to alcohol.

The Justice and Electoral Committee is hearing submissions on the Alcohol Reform Bill, which would toughen up rules on licensing and promoting alcohol.

Doctors from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians told MPs on Monday they support law changes to restrict the availability of alcohol.

Committee member Paul Quinn said the four doctors were pontificating about a drug three of them use, and it was hard to take them seriously.

Dr Peter Roberts from Wellington spoke in their defence, saying they drink in moderation.