Auckland Council has plans afoot to reduce alcohol purchase hours in bottle stores and supermarkets while further afield efforts are being put into restricting the sale of alcohol in north and central Taranaki.
If Auckland Council’s new alcohol policy is executed, off-license hours for alcohol sales would be from 9am to 9pm, losing four hours from the prior 7am to 11pm.
Retail NZ is considering appealing the proposal once council provides feedback on its decision. It initially made a submission for the hours to remain the same.
Hospitality NZ, which represents bars, restaurants and liquor outlets, said it was pleased the same rules would apply to bottle stores and supermarkets. It also said the decision to reduce the hours was acceptable.
Opening hours for bars and on-licences will remain until 4am in the city if the new policy is implemented, while outside the city the closing time will be 3am.
The policy also introduces a two-year ban on new off-licences in areas deemed most at risk of alcohol harm.
Auckland councillor Cameron Brewer said supermarkets should be treated differently to bottle stores because they monitor their alcohol sales better.
Further afield, the supermarket and hospitality industry are resisting joint effort by two councils to restrict the sale of alcohol in north and central Taranaki.
Four appeals have been lodged by Foodstuffs North Island, Progressive Enterprises, Hospitality NZ and The Mill Retail Holdings Limited/Independent Liquor Limited with the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority against the New Plymouth and Stratford district councils’ joint local alcohol policy.
The joint policy developed by the New Plymouth and Stratford councils was signed off in September last year. One of the major changes relates to a tightening up in trading hours.
While bottle stores and supermarkets can currently sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm, the new policy would limit this period to 10am to 9pm in New Plymouth and 7am to 10pm in Stratford. Rules around location and proximity to sensitive sites, like schools, would also come into force.
Hospitality New Zealand said the appeal of New Plymouth and Stratford’s new booze rules was one of many the group had lodged. A general appeal had been filed in connection with New Plymouth and Stratford policy as it is believed it includes detail which effectively allows councils to dictate how private companies do business.
Hospitality NZ is committed though to resolve local alcohol policy issues before a hearing is required.
