Waipā District Council is being advised to make changes to the district’s alcohol policy to help reduce alcohol-related harm.
Councils with a Local Alcohol Policy must review it every six years alongside the police, alcohol licensing inspectors and Medical Officers of Health.
All three regulatory agencies have provided comments to the Waipā District Council, advising councillors that Waipā's policy was no longer fit for purpose and could be improved.
Police statistics from 2013 - the most recent available - noted alcohol was the most common drug used to assist sexual assault; that alcohol was a common factor in violent offences and that a large proportion of family violence incidents involved alcohol or other drugs.
A staff report cited research showing alcohol-related harm impacted most lower socio-economic groups and ethnic minorities including Māori and Pasifika communities.