Community interests 'ignored' in booze rules

Liquor rules in Western Bay are said to be sacrificing the interests of individual communities.

Western Bay councils have been accused of drafting liquor rules that are so broad-brush they sacrifice the interests of individual communities.

Whakamarama resident Mike Mills delivered some stinging rebukes of the proposed policy which mainly deals with the trading hours and locations of licensed premises in Tauranga and the rest of the Western Bay.

Mr Mills said the policy failed to reflect the local character, values and needs of communities. He warned it would lead to a situation where people felt their only recourse was to oppose applications on a case-by-case basis.

Mr Mills put his case to a combined Tauranga City and Western Bay District councils meeting yesterday which was hearing submissions on the Local Alcohol Policy. It was due to continue today.

He said prohibiting new licensed premises in industrial areas, together with the 500m proximity controls for new premises, could unintentionally force outlets into residential areas.

Research showed that the distance to obtain alcohol limited the amount and frequency of purchases, particularly when supplied to minors. "Locating them where a car trip was required, such as industrial zones and town centres, would have a less harmful effect."

He suggested breaking up the Western Bay into six distinct communities of interest in order to develop policies that were relevant to each area. They were the Tauranga CBD; other city centres such as Bethlehem, the Mount and Papamoa; neighbourhood centres like Cherrywood and Welcome Bay; district town centres like Te Puke; district village centres like Omokoroa and Maketu; and rural communities like Paengaroa.

Mr Mills also challenged the way the policy created 500m no-go zones for licensed premises around institutions such as schools. "There is no evidence linking alcohol-related harm to the relative proximity of, for example, early childhood centres and off-licence premises."

He questioned the "arbitrary cap" of one licensed premise per every 2868 people.

Mr Mills also criticised the policy for treating every licence the same regardless of size and location.

He also questioned the proposed change in trading hours so that all bars and hotels could apply for a closing time of 3am.