A charity event raising money for a suicide prevention trust has been granted a liquor licence following a short-notice hearing.
The fashion show, which will be hosted at Dunedin’s Wall St mall on Saturday and hit the spotlight following comments by Mike King, was granted a liquor licence by the city’s District Licensing Committee this morning, despite some opposition.
The More than Just a Fashion Show is raising funds for Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust and awareness for mental health.
Police and the licensing inspector opposed the licence being granted, “but all parties acknowledged the quality of the event’s organisation and objectives,” DLC chair Colin Weatherall said.
“While the link between alcohol and mental health problems is well established, this event – like many others held in Dunedin and around New Zealand – is also an important part of fundraising for suicide prevention and other worthy charitable causes.
“With this in mind, the Committee has decided to grant the special licence for tomorrow’s event.
“Committee members and other agencies are also mindful of the need to consider the role alcohol plays in future fundraising efforts, but this needs to be discussed in a broader context as part of our Local Alcohol Policy.”
Stuff reported that organiser Tegan Vickery told the DLC that “this is a fashion show, not a student booze up”, and that having alcohol as well as juice available was about providing an option for those attending.
The event made headlines after Gumboot Friday founder and mental health advocate Mike King told Newstalk ZB on Wednesday that the opposition to the alcohol licence was “ridiculous” and “classic overreach”.
He then went on to say that “alcohol is not a problem for people with mental health issues, it’s actually the solution to our problem, until you come up with a better solution”.
His comments about mental health and alcohol promoted criticism from those working in mental health, and saw Labour call for the Government to pause and review its funding for the I Am Hope Foundation, which runs Gumboot Friday.
Both the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey have said while they don’t agree with King’s comments, they fully support Gumboot Friday, which helps provide free counselling for young people.
