A new alcohol Bill proposed by the government is a step backwards for public health and local democracy, a Lake Hāwea community activist says.
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill was proposed by the government on Monday.
A media release announcing the proposed Bill described it as ‘‘part of the government’s work to unleash New Zealanders and businesses from the stranglehold of red tape and support economic growth’’.
The Bill would see a loosening of licensing restrictions which would make it easier for businesses to serve alcohol to customers.
Examples included exempting hairdressers and barbers from requiring an onlicence to serve customers a limited amount of alcohol, or allowing licensed premises to remain open to televise significant events — such as the Rugby World Cup — outside of their normal licensed hours.
However, in addition to making it easier for businesses to serve alcohol, the Bill will make it harder for local communities to oppose licence applications or renewals, while preventing licence renewals from being declined solely because a Local Alcohol Policy has changed.
The proposed Bill would restrict objections to licence applications or renewals to those living or working in the same council area, or within one kilometre of the proposed licensed premises.
The Bill would also prevent licence renewals from being declined solely because a Local Alcohol Policy has changed.
Lisa Riley is a Lake Hāwea community activist who led the opposition to a liquor licence for a proposed Super Liquor outlet in the town.
In response to Super Liquor’s application for a licence, the Queenstown Lakes District Council received a record number of objections, accepting 538 submissions in opposition to the store in the town with a population of about 2000.
Ms Riley said in response to the Bill, the Sale and Supply of Alcohol [Improving Alcohol Regulation] Amendment Bill was being sold as a “red tape” tidy up.
‘‘It is nothing of the sort.
‘‘At its core, this Bill makes it easier to sell alcohol, harder for communities to object, and easier for existing licences to survive even when a community has fought to strengthen its Local Alcohol Policy.
‘‘One of the most alarming changes is the move to restrict objections to people who live or work in the same council area or within 1 kilometre of the proposed premises. That will silence many people with genuine, direct, local concerns, including community advocates, nearby families and residents just outside arbitrary boundaries.
‘‘The government is also moving to stop licence renewals being declined simply because a Local Alcohol Policy has changed. In plain English, communities can do the hard work of developing a stronger local policy, only to find that existing licences remain largely insulated from it.
‘‘The Bill does contain a small number of reasonable changes, such as clearer rules for rapid alcohol delivery and easier availability of zeroalcohol alternatives. But those proposals do not change the overall direction of travel.
‘‘This Bill should be judged by its real world effect: less community power, more alcohol availability and more harm,’’ Ms Riley said.