Alac welcomes liquor licence rejection

A High Court decision backing a decision not to renew a convenience store's liquor licence has been welcomed by the Alcohol Advisory Council (Alac).

Victoria Night 'n Day Foodstore of Christchurch had appealed a decision of the Liquor Licensing Authority (LLA) not to renew the licence. The LLA said the store was not a grocery store and should therefore not have been granted a licence.

The High Court in Christchurch this week dismissed the appeal, a decision which could have a significant impact on the licensing of convenience stores around the country.

Alac chief executive Gerard Vaughan said the licensing of convenience stores was too far removed from the original intent of the Sale of Liquor Act.

"The relevant section of the Act was to allow grocery stores, like supermarkets, the ability to offer customers shopping for food, groceries and other household items, the ability to purchase alcohol at the same time.

"Parliament never envisaged licensing a myriad of outlets, which are in the business of selling convenience items such as chippies, soft drinks and open 24 hours a day seven days a week, also being given a licence to sell alcohol."

- NZPA