Local Alcohol Policy (draft) 2023
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Introduction
Hurunui District Council is consulting on its draft Local Alcohol Policy (LAP). A LAP is a set of decisions made by Council in consultation with the community about the sale and supply of alcohol in the Hurunui District.
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 (the Act) aims to improve New Zealand’s drinking culture and reduce the harm caused by excessive drinking.
Key features of the Act include:
- Increasing the ability of communities to have a say about alcohol licensing in their local area • allowing local-level decision-making for all licence applications • requiring the consent of a parent or guardian before supplying alcohol to a minor • requiring anyone who supplies alcohol to under 18-year-olds to do so responsibly • strengthening the rules around the types of stores allowed to sell alcohol • introducing maximum default trading hours for licensed premises • restricting supermarket and grocery store alcohol displays to a single area.
LAPs have legal standing under the Act. This means that licensing bodies, such as the District Licensing Committee (DLC) and The Alcohol and Regulatory Licensing Authority (ARLA), must consider it when they make decisions about alcohol licensing applications.
The Council has a role in alcohol licensing by way of the LAP, through administration of the DLC and through its regulatory and enforcement roles.
Why is the council proposing a draft LAP?
The current LAP came into effect in 2017 and is now due for review. This review meets the Council’s statutory role under the Act. It also allows the Council and communities to set outcomes and have influence on alcohol licensing decisions in the Hurunui district for the next six years.
What is Council proposing in the draft LAP?
A full copy of the Draft LAP with proposed changes is available on the Council’s website. Feedback and reports from New Zealand Police (Nga Pirihimana O Aotearoa), Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand Medical Officer of Health), and the Chief Licensing Inspector detailing considerations when reviewing the Policy are also available on our website.
In summary, proposed changes to the draft LAP include:
- Formatting and layout to improve readability.
- Reduction of trading hours by one hour for off-licences.
- Policy for special licenses regarding servings of alcohol per person - a limit of two drinks per serve.
- Policy requirement for special licences to provide written Noise Management Plans (NMP) where the licensed event has amplified sound, including live music.
- Policy requirement for on; off; club; and large-scale special licence applications to provide a written Alcohol Management Plan to help assess levels of risk associated with the licence.
- Policy regarding designation exemptions for on and off-licence premises.
- Discretionary condition for on-licences. A NMP may be required where there is amplified sound, including live music.
- Discretionary condition for premises trading after midnight may be required to have a one-way door system.
- Discretionary condition for club licences to better reflect hours of operation.
- Discretionary condition for special licenses addressing waste management during and after an event.
- Addition of definitions to improve clarity.
Supporting documents, if you want to know more:
How to provide feedback:
This draft LAP is a proposal. You have an opportunity to have your say before it is finalised. You can comment on any aspect of the draft LAP.
Any person or organisation making a submission may request to be heard in support of their submission. The date set down for this is currently Tuesday 17th October 2023.
Submissions can be made in the following ways:
- Online: link below
- Email: submission@hurunui.govt.nz
- On paper: Hard copies of the feedback forms and the draft LAP will be available at our libraries/service centres
- By post:
Draft Local Alcohol Policy
Hurunui District Council
PO Box 13
Amberley 7411
All submissions received will be acknowledged and will become publicly available information.
Any person or organisation making a submission may request to be heard in support of their submission. The date set down for this is currently Tuesday 17th October 2023.
