New Alcohol Plan will include community consultation

Liquor Licensing Co-ordinator, Kevin Mechen, says the new Local Alcohol Plan "is a big one."

If the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill currently before Parliament goes through, our existing Sale of Liquor Policy will become binding on the District Licensing Authority and put the decision-making process back in the hands of the community.

Mr Mechen is drafting a new version of the policy to send to the Police and Public Health South for their input before handing the draft document to the Council around June. If the Council approve it, the policy will go through a community consultation process, giving residents the opportunity to say how they see the future of drinking in our city.

The annual cost of alcohol related harm to New Zealand each year is $1-4 billion. Mr Mechen says that while there will probably be an economic impact for some licensees, the reduction in these costs by far outweighs this.

You can read the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill at www.legislation.co.nz (search Bills).

Contact details

Contact Kevin Mechen on 477 4000.

Last reviewed: 20 May 2009 3:36pm