Alcohol outlets in Auckland will have shorter and stricter trading hours next month, including no booze being sold from bottle shops and supermarkets after 9pm.
The rule is the final phase of the implementation of Auckland Council’s new Local Alcohol Policy.
Auckland Council policy general manager Louise Mason said the changes to trading hours would apply to all off-licenses, on-licences and clubs from December 9.
“At off-licences, such as bottle shops and supermarkets, alcohol sales will end at 9pm,” Mason said.
Before this, bottle shops and supermarkets could operate until 11pm, if permitted.
“On-licences, such as bars and restaurants that are permitted by the District Licensing Committee (DLC) will be able to sell alcohol up until 4am in the city centre, and 3am outside of the city centre.”
Mason said sports clubs and RSAs would be able to sell alcohol until 1am, if they were already permitted to do this by the DLC.
“The policy will not impact trading hours for special licences for festivals and events.
“These will continue to be assessed by the District Licensing Committee, as they are now.”
The first phase of the LAP was implemented on September 16, with a two-year freeze for new off-licence applications in the CBD and 23 town centres in priority overlay areas with the highest alcohol-related harm.
Mason said the DLC has been enacting the first change of the freeze, and council’s focus has been preparing for the second stage of the LAP.
Once the strict trading hours comes into effect, council would turn its attention to monitoring the impact of the LAP, she said.
“Getting the local alcohol policy across the line was a positive win for our communities and the council has been fighting for this on their behalf for a long time.
“The purpose of the policy is to reduce alcohol related harm, so it’s encouraging to see it coming into effect.”
She said council has been sharing information with businesses and have sent out some materials they could use to communicate the next stage with their customers, if they would like to.
“We’ll follow our usual monitoring procedure to check licence holders are sticking to the policy.
“Our licensing team regularly visits off-licence holders to check compliance with licences, so it will fall under that process.”
After almost a decade of legal battles, Auckland’s local alcohol policy was adopted in August.
“Listening to businesses as well as the public played a vital role in shaping a policy that is fair, reasonable and works for Aucklanders while reducing alcohol related harm in our communities.
“During the consultation over the policy, we heard some businesses were supportive of this change as it maintained a level playing field while helping to keep their colleagues safe when they worked later at night.”
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
