The effect of metallicity on the AGB mass loss is reviewed .
Observations have mainly been limited to the Magellanic Clouds but are observationally feasible throughout the Local Group .
Expansion velocities are predicted to depend strongly on Z but the peak mass-loss rates appear not to .
The Mira PL relation shows no evidence for a Z dependence , giving a powerful potential distance indicator .
I derive a distance modulus to the LMC of m - M = 18.63 \pm 0.09 as well as a bright calibration for the Horizontal Branch in globular clusters .
Finally , the predicted initial-final mass relation at low Z is shown to give rise to higher mass remnants .
This would result in an increased supernova rate in young , low- Z populations , such as found in the early Universe .