Wellington, June 16 NZPA - The Police Association has told a parliamentary committee the real issues around excessive drinking are not being addressed.

The justice select committee today heard submissions on a bill designed to give local authorities more control over the number of liquor outlets in their areas, and where they are sited.

The Police Association said in its written submission the proposals in the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill would have a positive but limited effect.

"The key but `thornier' questions -- particularly around raising the drinking age, addressing parental supply of liquor and lowering the permissible adult driver blood alcohol level -- remain un-addressed," the association said.

Its president, Greg O'Connor, said a survey had shown 72 percent of officers supported raising the drinking age from 18 to 20 and 62 percent supported lowering the blood alcohol level for drivers.

The bill was the previous government's response to a spate of alcohol-related attacks on shopkeepers in South Auckland.

It was taken over by the present Government and passed its first reading in March.

The Retailers Association did not want the bill to be passed.

"We have major concerns that all too often the New Zealand Parliament is asked to act hastily and in so doing consider piecemeal solutions to issues such as liquor," it said.

"We are firmly of the view that this should be avoided at this time."

The legislation also proposes a stronger regime for alcohol advertising, with the director-general of health having the power to issue "cease and desist" orders.

The Advertising Standards Authority said the "comprehensive" definition of liquor advertising was likely to cause problems.

The Newspaper Publishers Association (NPA) supported the authority's submission.

"The breadth of the definition of liquor advertisement is so wide that it creates so much uncertainty as to perhaps be unworkable," NPA chief executive Tim Pankhurst told MPs.

"I assume this is unintentional and invite the committee to recommend it be amended."