Editorial: Coffee rather than booze

Agnes Hermans does not believe the Whangarei District Licensing Committee has listened to the community. Photo / File

Onerahi residents have good reason to toast their democratic victory.

A sensible cup of tea might be appropriate, given it was a new liquor store that they have helped stop.

Businessman Edward Jones has withdrawn his application to open the Onerahi Liquor Centre after Northland medical officer of health Clair Mills appealed the matter in the High Court.

He cited legal fatigue - ongoing court costs and arguments - as the primary reason behind the withdrawal.

Dr Mills had become the legal face of the fight, but behind her was a vocal army of Onerahi residents concerned at what they believed would be an over proliferation of alcohol outlets in their suburb.

They were also concerned that their opinion, based on what they experience living in their community, had been ignored by Whangarei District Licensing Committee.

The committee had approved the new liquor store with a raft of restrictions.

One of them was that the store had to close between 3pm and 4pm, presumably to protect children from being tempted by an Aladdin's Cave of potential alcoholism.

Whangarei District Councillor Sue Glen - a member of the Onerahi Alcohol Harm Minimisation Group - did not understand the approval either, and consistently opposed it as an individual.

The OAHMG led the initial court action before it was successfully carried on by Dr Mills, who strongly waved the health concern flag.

There is money in alcohol, and a market for it in Onerahi.

Otherwise Mr Jones would not have bothered with the application.

But given that democracy and legal tenacity has prevailed, perhaps there is a chance for Mr Jones to serve Onerahi residents something more palatable.

There might not be the same profit in it, but a decent cup of coffee wouldn't go astray in Onerahi.