10 March 2021 In the March edition of The ShoutNZ, NZABC's Executive Director Bridget MacDonald discusses the recent announcement of the continued commitment of Speights sponsoring the Highlanders Super Rugby team drawing outrage from Alcohol Healthwatch, a government-funded anti-alcohol lobby group. Lion’s Speights brand has been supporting the team for 25 years. Sponsorship is [...]
OPINION 23 December 2020 Bridget MacDonald, NZABC’s Executive Director explains in the Beverage Report 2020 how earlier this year, commentary in the media predicted we’d become a nation of binge drinkers as we headed into a Level 4 lockdown, but in reality, we’ve seen a continuation of our predominantly sensible drinking culture. What’s more, [...]
MEDIA RELEASE 6 July 2020 NZABC's Bridget MacDonald talks with THE SHOUT NZ about the end of the wage subsidy and what that means for the hospitality industry. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that the wage subsidy scheme will end in September, three weeks before the election. Ardern confirmed the decision following her [...]
OPINION 4 June 2020 - Bridget MacDonald, Executive Director as featured in THE SHOUT NZ Hospitality businesses were some of the first to be affected by the pandemic. In February and March, prior to moving into full lockdown for Alert Level 4, restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs were already affected by customers’ initial concerns of being [...]
OPINION 19th May 2020 - Bridget MacDonald, Executive Director Commentary over lockdown would have Kiwis thinking that unprecedented levels of alcohol were being sold and consumed, and we became a nation of out of control boozers. Stories of initial panic-buying implied it would all be drunk in one fell swoop. This was followed by calls [...]
