Hearings for Council's Alcohol Policy start today

Auckland Mayor Len Brown said the policy has "struck the right balance". Photo / Natalie Slade

The liquor industry and health authorities will have a say on a controversial draft alcohol policy in Auckland from today.

More than 400 of the 2688 submitters on the draft Auckland Council Local Alcohol Policy want to speak to the policy at a series of hearings, beginning today in central Auckland before moving to Manukau on Wednesday. This will be followed by hearings in other parts of the city.

The council is proposing to cut the hours people can buy alcohol at bottles stores and supermarkets from 11pm to 10pm and the time it can be sold in central-city bars, pubs and restaurants from 4am to 3am.

On-licence sales in other parts of the city, including Newmarket and Parnell, would be cut from 4am to 1am.

The policy also covers where new alcohol licences are allowed and how many new alcohol licences are allowed.

The policy has drawn opposition from the liquor industry, but tougher liquor laws have the support of the police and health authorities.

John Hellebrekers, managing director of Barworks, which has 17 venues in Auckland, has told the Herald the closing hours should be 5am as is proposed for Wellington.
Auckland medical officer of health Dr Denise Barnfather said she shared concerns of police that staggered closing times for on-licences would lead to people who had consumed significant amounts of alcohol getting into cars and moving into the city centre to continue drinking.

Due to the volume of submissions, several of the hearings will be in the forum style where groups of submitters will discuss their feedback with panel members.

This system of hearings was used for the council's draft Unitary Plan, with mixed results. Many participants believed they did not get a proper hearing.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown, who has said the policy has "struck the right balance", said it was the first time Aucklanders had been given a say on how alcohol should be sold in the city.

The draft plan, he said, aimed to balance the social impacts with Aucklanders being able to enjoy a drink responsibly.

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 gave councils the ability to develop Local Alcohol Policies.

After the hearings, a panel of councillors will report back to the council with recommendations. The policy could come into effect by Christmas.

What the bylaw proposes
*Cutting central-city bars, pubs and restaurant hours from 4am to 3am
*Cutting bars, pubs and restaurant hours in other parts of the city from 4am to 1am
*Cutting alcohol sales at bottle stores and supermarkets from 11pm to 10pm