Consultation opens on proposed new Local Alcohol Policy

Today, the Dunedin City Council (DCC) opens consultation on a proposed new LAP, with feedback welcomed until 5pm on Friday 25 September 2026.

Although Dunedin’s current LAP is overall considered to be working well, more can be done to minimise alcohol-related harm. The proposed LAP seeks to create an enabling policy that reflects community preferences, recognises the local context of Dunedin, and supports vibrant, safe communities.

Following community engagement earlier this year, the proposed new LAP introduces changes with this aim, while also balancing the needs of Dunedin’s residents, visitors, businesses, and communities.

The proposed key changes include:

• Expanding the definition of a sensitive facility proximity for new licence applications
• Introducing a restriction on new off-licences within High Deprivation Areas
• Reducing permitted off-licence trading hours to: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 9pm
• Introducing a discretionary condition so that the District Licensing Committee should prohibit external advertising and promotion of alcohol unless there is a good reason not to
• Including discretionary conditions that the District Licensing Committee should consider imposing unless there is a good reason not to, including:
  • Limits on single-unit alcohol sales.
  • Restrictions on "buy now, pay later" purchasing schemes.
• Changing the earliest on-licence alcohol sales time from 8am to 9am, and aligning licensing hours with District Plan’s Centre Zones by introducing a maximum closing time of 1am for all licence holders located within those zones
• Introducing discretionary conditions that should generally be imposed unless there is a good reason not to, including:
  • Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles
  • Security and safety measures
  • Incident registers
  • Staff training records
• Introducing a discretionary condition requiring clubs to have a holder of a manager's certificate present during busy periods unless there is a good reason not to

Submissions will be considered in October 2026, followed by the Council considering all submissions and decides on any changes to the LAP.

More information is available at: www.dunedin.govt.nz/consultation

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