After a lengthy legal battle spanning almost a decade, Auckland Council has today adopted its local alcohol policy for Auckland.
The new policy coming into full effect from December would include stricter trading hours, meaning bottle shops and supermarkets across the region won’t be able to sell alcohol after 9pm. Currently, it can be sold until 11pm.
The policy was approved by the Alcohol and Regulatory Licensing Authority at the beginning of August, and Auckland’s councillors unanimously voted for the policy to come into full effect by December 9, 2024 at the council’s governing body meeting today.
In a statement, Auckland Council said the policy would come into effect in two stages, with the first beginning September 16 when stricter rules for new off-licences opening in the central city and 23 other suburbs come into force.
Off-licenses would be unable to sell alcohol after 9pm under the new policy which would also see a two-year freeze on new licenses in priority areas predominantly located in south and West Auckland. (Source: Breakfast)
Of the 23 suburbs in the priority overlays, 13 were in South Auckland: Hunters Corner, Māngere, Māngere East, Manukau, Manurewa, Ōtāhuhu, Ōtara, Papakura, Papatoetoe, Pukekohe, Takanini, Weymouth (Clendon) and Wiri.
The other 10 suburbs are Avondale, Glen Eden, Glen Innes, Helensville and Parakai, Henderson, Mt Wellington, Oranga, Panmure, Point England, and Wellsford and Te Hana.
These rules would mean any application to open an off-licence in these areas was likely to be declined for the next two years, “unless a very high threshold is met”.
Changes to maximum trading hours would come into effect three months later, on December 9, 2024 when bottle shops and supermarkets across Auckland would not be able to sell alcohol after 9pm.
Bars, restaurants and other on-licences permitted by the District Licensing Committee would be able to sell alcohol until no later than 4am in the central city, and 3am outside of the central city.
Sports clubs and RSAs will only be permitted by the District Licensing Committee to sell alcohol until 1am.
The policy would not impact special licences for festivals and events. These will continue to be assessed by the District Licensing Committee, as they are now.
Policy 10 years in the making
Regulatory and safety committee chairperson Josephine Bartley said the Council had been “fighting for this on behalf of our communities for almost ten years”.
“When we consulted people on the policy, we heard from communities and businesses. They told us that we didn’t need more off-licences, and the hours that shops can sell alcohol should be reduced. That’s what we’ve now been able to achieve,” she said.
She said the legal battle between the council and supermarkets saw the policy taken through the Court of Appeal to the High Court and, eventually, all the way to the Supreme Court.
“The key issues for the supermarkets were around maximum trading hours. This resulted in amendments to the policy, including changes to the proposed alcohol trading hours. Through the amendment, the start time for sales of alcohol was pushed forward by two hours, to 7am instead of 9am – the time the council had initially recommended,” she said.
In 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed the supermarkets’ appeals, awarding costs to the council. After the Supreme Court decision, the remaining appeals were dismissed or withdrawn.
A win for reducing harm from alcohol
Health New Zealand’s medical officer of health Dr June Leung said limiting the number of alcohol outlets and the hours they can trade is shown to reduce alcohol harm including injuries, violence and car crashes.
Earlier this month, an Otago University study revealed alcohol as the cause of around 900 deaths and 29,000 hospitalisations each year in New Zealand.
“The high availability of alcohol in our neighbourhoods contributes to these harms. The local alcohol policy is a major step forward in addressing the availability of alcohol as well as community concerns over alcohol harm in Tāmaki Makaurau.
“Public health has long supported stronger controls on alcohol availability, and we commend Auckland Council for persisting with the local alcohol policy,” she said.
Police also supported the move, as Superintendent Scott Gemmell said Auckland’s local alcohol policy is a “step forward” in reducing harm caused by irresponsible drinking.
“We respond to incidents where alcohol is a key factor every day. In fact, 1 in 5 victimisations are fuelled by alcohol – it’s not insignificant.
“We want people to feel safe and will continue to work with our partners to prevent and address alcohol-related crimes. This policy will help with our work to prevent alcohol-harms – it’s a step in the right direction,” he said.