Grabbing a beer after work could soon cost more, with Whangarei's liquor licensing fees becoming the most expensive in the country.
Whangarei's Grand Hotel owner Vic Hill said the fee increase could result in customers paying more, staff cuts, falling profits and more venues shutting their doors.
Whangarei District Council said the fees were largely a result of legislation imposed on the council by centralGovernment and that the cost of enforcing liquor licences had to be met by either ratepayers or the businesses.
The Government set default fees in 2013 under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act (2012). WDC then opted to create a bylaw which hiked these by a further63 to 78 per cent from 2017 onwards. The 2016 fees were part of a stepped increase.
Mr Hill said that before the Act cameinto force, he was paying $1632 for a three-year period for an on- and off-licence. Under the council bylaw, Mr Hill said he would pay $8104 to renew two "medium" class licenses this year. Next time the three-year fee would be even higher, at $9098.