Court ruling may herald end of corner store alcohol

A Christchurch convenience store may lose its liquor licence in a move which could herald the end of corner shops selling booze.

Since 2000 the Liquor Licensing Authority has allowed convenience stores to trade as grocery stores, opening the door for them to sell alcohol.

However, in a decision released this week it said the Victoria Night 'n Day foodstore was unlikely to have its licence renewed in March as it was not a grocery store and the previous approach to licencing was "contrary to the terms" of the Sale of Liquor Act, The Press reported.

The authority, which has a new chairman in District Court Judge Bill Unwin, has stopped issuing licences to new convenience stores.

"The reality is that a large number of convenience stores have joined the bandwagon and obtained licences which should not have been granted," it said.

- NZPA