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\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Samuel Rillstone\n<\/p>\n
The government is proposing to amend alcohol legislation so restaurants with on-site retail spaces can sell take-home booze.<\/p>\n
The amendment to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act would mean restaurants can apply for an off-licence, if they also sell takeaway food or non-alcoholic beverages prepared by the business.<\/p>\n
The bill was originally a National Party member’s bill lodged by Hutt South MP Chris Bishop in 2018, and then transferred to Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick in 2023 once Bishop became a minister.<\/p>\n
The bill was pulled from the ballot in April, but has now been picked up by Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee as government legislation.<\/p>\n
McKee said restaurants were already trusted to supply alcohol through an on-licence, and the law change would mean they can apply for permission to sell it for off-site consumption as well.<\/p>\n
“Right now, restaurants that prepare and sell food products like sauces, pastries or desserts for consumption off site are effectively barred from selling customers a bottle of wine to take home,” she said.<\/p>\n
“These rigid rules have created absurd barriers to responsible businesses providing a unique experience their customers want.”<\/p>\n
McKee said the current law was “nonsensical.” She gave the example of La Bella Italia in Petone, which has both a restaurant and an on-site shop under the same roof.<\/p>\n
She said the restaurant had had to jump through “all sorts of hoops” to sell wine for customers to take home with their meal.<\/p>\n
“When the rules can’t adapt, they block good ideas and kill the spirit and ambition of the people behind them.”<\/p>\n
Restaurants would continue to be required to hold an on-licence to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises.<\/p>\n
Alcohol legislation flows through Parliament<\/p>\n
This would not be the only legislation liberalising alcohol sales to be considered by Parliament this term.<\/p>\n
In August, McKee announced she would loosen the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to make it harder for people to block liquor licences<\/a>, and easier for ministers to declare one-off special trading hours for venues screening major sporting or cultural events.<\/p>\n Labour’s Kieran McAnulty has a member’s bill to allow businesses that are already allowed to open on Anzac Day morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day to sell alcohol.<\/p>\n