Auckland Council’s New Alcohol Policy Sparks Protest: Super Markets And Retailers To Appeal

New Zealand's Auckland council has revised its alcohol policy and there are protests from a section of retailers and supermarkets. The aggrieved will now appeal the decision as the selling hours have been cut. The new rule mandates off-licences can only sell alcohol from 9 am to 9 pm, changing the existing time of 7 am to 11 pm, making the retailers jittery.

"Achieving a balanced local alcohol policy to suit the entire Auckland region is what we believe has been achieved," committee chair Councillor George Wood said. The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 has bestowed local authorities the power to set their own LAPs and councils are exercising that power.

The plan to go in appeal against the decision was expressed by Retail NZ public affairs general manager Greg Harford, who told Radio NZ that the group wants to appeal against the proposal. The retailers want the status quo restored. "At this stage we need to get hold of the final decision, look at what the council has decided, and make some decision from there how we proceed," he said.

Meanwhile, Hospitality NZ, representing bars, restaurants and liquor outlets, said it was happy that the rules have been made uniform for bottle stores and supermarkets. "We couldn't really see that there should be any difference between them," the group's Auckland branch president, Kevin Schwaff, said and called the decision to curbing the selling as "reasonable."

Tight Policy

Beyond the selling hours, the Local Alcohol Policy also mulls a two-year ban on new off-licences in the central city and areas where the risk of alcohol-related harm is high, reports Stuff.Co.Nz. The Regional Strategy and Policy committee has alredy voted in favour of the new policy. Those having objection can appeal within 30 days at the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority. The new rules will also affect off-licences near schools. They have to close between 3 and 4 pm. It also brings in a two-year ban on new off-licences in the CBD and "priority areas". The curbs will cover neighbourhoods with a high incidence of alcohol-related offences.

Closing Time

The "priority areas” are mainly suburbs like Avondale, Henderson, Glen Innes, Hunters Corner, Mangere, Mt Wellington, Otahuhu, Otara, Papakura and Pukekohe. Under the revised rules, the maximum opening hours for pubs, or on-licences will be from 8 am to 4 am at city centres and for others they have to close at 3 am. Sports Clubs and other clubs have to close at 1 am. The provisional policy will be notified shortly.

(For feedback/comments, contact the writer at k.kumar@ibtimes.com.au)