Ruling targets dairies selling booze

File photo / Dean Purcell

The days of convenience stores selling wine and beer may be numbered following a High Court ruling.

Late last year the Liquor Licensing Authority indicated Christchurch's Victoria Street Night'n'Days liquor licence would not be renewed this year. It said the store should be reclassified as a dairy and so cannot sell alcohol.

The convenience store appealed the decision but that has been dismissed by a High Court Judge.

Christchurch City Council liquor licensing team leader Paul Rogers says this means only stores where people do their one-stop shop, such as large supermarkets and bottle stores, will be able to hold a liquor licence.

The Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) welcomed the decision.

"The licensing of convenience stores is too far removed from the original intent of the Sale of Liquor Act," said ALAC CEO Gerard Vaughan.

"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."

- Newstalk ZB, NZPA