Drink laws out dated says HANZ

Friday, 2 April 2004, 9:37 am
Press Release: Hospitality Association of New Zealand

The hospitality industry believes it’s time that our legislators tried sampling the 21st century. As Easter approaches patrons still face restrictive laws which close bars at midnight on Thursday and Saturday nights and prohibits bars opening on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Bruce Robertson, the Chief Executive of the Hospitality Association of New Zealand, says the law should at least allow bars to open on Easter Sundays.

“It’s OK to buy wine from a winery, drink at a chartered club and drink while dining, but it’s not OK to drink at a pub, and that’s nonsensical, “ he says.

He also says it’s unreasonable that bars must close at midnight on the Thursday and Saturday of Easter.

“These days there are many entertainment places, such as pubs, where there’s high action still happening at midnight. The observance of Easter doesn’t begin until at least 6 am on Good Friday, and to have bars closed six hours before then doesn’t embrace much common sense,” says Mr Robertson.

Under urgency, Parliament has extended the opportunity for wineries to trade, but not bars. “It seems the law makers condone white-collar-chardonnay-sippers having a drink on Easter Sunday but different standards are being applied to those who simply want to have a beer at their local bar, and that’s selective morality which shouldn’t be part of our law, “ he said.

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