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Alcohol Licensing & Local Alcohol Policies

Our new liquor laws in 1989 had a huge impact on our drinking culture. 

Alcohol was more available in our communities and to young people:

  • Wine (in 1989) and beer (in 1999) were able to be sold in supermarkets
  • Alcohol sales could take place on Sunday
  • The legal age to buy alcohol was reduced from 20 to 18 years.

Over the next twenty years, the number of places selling alcohol DOUBLED.

Communities got increasingly frustrated with the high levels of alcohol harm and called for stronger liquor laws. So in 2009, the New Zealand Law Commission took a look at our alcohol laws.

In 2012, new alcohol legislation was introduced (The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012). One of the objectives of the new legislation was to increase community input into local alcohol licensing decisions.

Communities can have more say by:

1) objecting to a liquor licence application

2) having input into the development of their Counci's Local Alcohol Policy.

This aim of this section is to enable you and your community to participate in processes regarding the availability of alcohol in your neighbourhood.

Both these processes are not without their challenges, so information, tip and tools are provided to you to assist you in engaging with this legislation.

Object to a liquor licence application

Many communities across the country are actively involved in objecting to liquor licence applications. Reducing the number of licensed premises (places that sell alcohol) and problems associated with them can greatly improve your local surroundings and reduce alcohol-related harm.

Case for change What you need to know Take Action Case Study

Make a complaint about a licensed premises

Holding a liquor licence is a privilege and not a right. It is important the licence holders and licensed premises comply with the law and conditions on their licence.

This section describes the importance of this area of action and guides you through the process of making a complaint about a local licensed premises. For information on taking action on single areas within supermarkets, please click here.

Case for change What you need to know Take Action Case Study

Have your say on a Local Alcohol Policy

Our 2012 liquor laws gave each of the 67 local Councils in New Zealand the ability to develop a Local Alcohol Policy. 

They are not mandatory; many Councils have not yet progressed to developing a policy. These policies can specify the location, density and trading hours of premises, as well as the types of discretionary conditions which can be added to a licence.

Local Alcohol Policies offer a significant opportunity to reduce alcohol-related harm in your community.

Case for change What you need to know Take Action Case Study

References

References

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