A proposed new liquor law that was sparked by the killing of Riverton liquor store owner Navtej Singh has been met with mixed reactions within the local community.
The legislation, if passed, will mean that a dairy smaller than 150sq m will no longer be allowed to sell
liquor.
The Velvet Dairy in Otara sells everything from toothpaste to chocolate bars, but is also home to "a few" beers and wine, owner Bhagu Patel said.
Being a larger shop, the business will not be affected if the bill is passed, but Mr Patel is not a supporter,, saying it is unfair to the shop owner and the customers. "I get about $1400 a week from selling that [alcohol]. It's extra money for us, that we need."
At the Mangere Town Centre, on Badar Drive, no dairies on the block sell alcohol, but four liquor stores are within the centre.
Acting town centre manager Peter Williams said if it were up to him, there would be fewer liquor stores in the area, acknowledging that having them so close together had led to problems.
"Kids - they drink in the carparks late at night - it's just too easy to get the booze these days.
"When I was young, you had to be 21 to walk into a pub. We've relaxed the rules too much and now we can't control it [the situation]," Mr Williams said.
Russell Sinclair, of the New Zealand Retailers Association, said although he supported the review of the licensing laws, limiting the sale of liquor within stores of a particular size was not the answer to combating crime.
"I think it's a bit of a smokescreen of the real problems of crime. We think the issue should be more about policing those areas [and] they should be taking a serious look at raising the drinking age again - and not punishing the store owners - that's their livelihood."
