Nine years after it was first approved, Auckland Council’s provisional local alcohol policy looks finally set to come into effect, after being adopted by the national Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA) earlier this month. The policy features 23 ‘priority overlay’ areas that council says have experienced higher levels of alcohol-related harm, which include Wellsford and Te Hana. Special regulations would mean a two-year freeze on any new bottle shops in these areas, followed by a permanent presumption against granting new off-licences after that.
The policy would also mean that all supermarkets and bottle shops across Auckland could not sell alcohol after 9pm, something that the supermarket chains objected to from the start, which prompted eight years of hearings and appeals that went all the way to the Supreme Court. However, those appeals were thrown out by the court in May last year, paving the way for ARLA’s decision this month, which council’s general manager of policy, Louise Mason, said was good news. “At its core, the policy’s purpose is to help minimise alcohol-related harm in our communities, while balancing fair and reasonable requirements for businesses,” she said.
Chair of council’s regulatory and safety committee Josephine Bartley agreed, saying the policy would give council and communities the chance to influence the location, number and trading hours of any businesses selling alcohol. “It’s not a ban on drinking – it’s about working together to create a thriving, safe and healthy region for all of us,” she said. “We want Aucklanders to enjoy all our region has to offer, and to feel safe when doing so.
” Bartley said the policy had been designed in partnership with residents, community groups and local boards, as well as stakeholders representing businesses and public health organisations, and had been through a full public consultation process. The policy still needs to go to council’s governing body before it can come into effect, when councillors will be asked to choose a date for the policy to become active. The next governing body meeting will be on August 29, though the alcohol policy’s inclusion had yet to be confirmed as we went to press.
.
