Dunedin’s District Licensing Committee has approved a liquor licence for a charity fashion show raising money for suicide awareness. It comes after initial opposition from the licensing inspector and police due to concerns about alcohol’s presence at the event and the potential link with suicide. It also follows comments made by I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday campaigner Mike King that “alcohol is the solution for people with mental health issues” and that medical research proving it is linked with suicide is a matter of opinion.
Tomorrow’s charity show, organised by Otago Polytechnic School of Fashion student Tegan Rose Vickery, is to help support the Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust. “I just wanted to reiterate to everyone that my supplying a drink to someone to have while they watch the fashion show tomorrow night wasn’t the purpose,” she told Newstalk ZB ..
