MEDIA RELEASE
Ruapehu District Council

Date: Thursday 23 May 2013

Public Urged to Have Their Say On Local Alcohol Policy

Hospitality providers and other interested members of the public are being encouraged to register to have their say on Ruapehu District Council’s (RDC) draft Local Alcohol Policy.

RDC Policy Planner, Katherine Ivory, said that the new Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 introduced the option of council’s adopting a Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) which allows restrictions on licenced premise’s trading hours, location and the number of licences in an area to be set at a district level.

“The LAP will help to overcome shortcomings in the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 which provided very few ways for council’s and communities to control the supply of alcohol and will replace Ruapehu’s existing Liquor Licensing Policy,” she said.

“Council is in the process of drafting its LAP in consultation with the Police and Medical Officers of Health from the Whanganui and Waikato District Health Boards.”

“The draft LAP is scheduled to be opened for public consultation in July allowing affected stakeholders and other interested parties to put in a submission.”

Ms Ivory noted that as the LAP will become a guiding document for the District Licensing Committee when making decisions on granting liquor licences it is important for licence holders to have their say.

“Council is urging all affected parties and community stakeholders to register with council to receive a copy of the draft LAP and put in a submission when the consultation opens which they can support with a presentation to council if they wish,” she said.

“Under the 1989 Act there were no limits, or way to limit, the number of outlets in an area, no national limits on trading hours, and very few grounds for people to object to licence applications.”

“In addition to limits on trading hours, location and licence numbers LAP’s can also set conditions such as requiring a “one-way door” policy or other discretionary conditions such as how patrons are informed about transport options.”

Ms Ivory said that people could get more information of the development of the LAP and register their interest by going on-line to; www.ruapehudc.govt.nz or by calling their local council office

PETER TILL
CHIEF EXECUTIVE

ENDS

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