Local alcohol policy back for discussion

The process of developing Hamilton’s Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) will recommence today.

Hamilton City Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee will meet at 1pm to consider options for the policy which regulates the sale and supply of alcohol in the city.

A draft LAP was developed in 2013 and consulted on the following year. The Council decided to defer making a decision on the policy at this time as 20 councils across New Zealand were facing LAP appeals which raised fundamental issues that could have consequences for all draft LAPs.

City Environments General Manager Debra Stan-Barton says Council staff have considered issues raised during consultation on the draft policy in 2014 and made recommendations for the committee.

“The committee will decide on licensing hours for bars located outside the CBD, where off-licenses can be located and a number of other options for the policy that aim to reduce alcohol-related harm,” she says. “A draft LAP will then be brought back to the committee for adoption on 3 November 2015.”

If it is adopted on 3 November, the policy will be subject to a 30 day appeal period.

Once the LAP is in place, the District Licensing Committee (DLC) must consider the policy when making decisions on-licence applications.

ENDS

© Scoop Media