Alcohol policy hearings see views voiced

Suburban supermarket and liquor store owners in Porirua are concerned they will be disadvantaged by the proposed local alcohol policy, which would see different closing times for city outlets.

Hearings for the draft local alcohol policy were heard by Porirua City councillors last Thursday. The hearings outline proposed closing times and other rules for when and where alcohol can be sold in Porirua.

Whitby New World co-owner Erica Meuli said although the supermarket did not make a large amount of money from alcohol sales, not being able to buy it after 9pm in the suburbs would mean late- night shoppers would just go into the city.

Independent Liquor spokesman Mark Unsworth said he did not think harm caused by alcohol would be reduced by cutting the hours of off-licences, and it was unfair to have different hours for liquor stores.

‘‘ We’ve got no problem with supermarkets at all ... we just don’t see the need for a split difference between liquor stores and supermarkets,’’ he said.

Metropolitan and The Ledge owner Jimmy Isaako, supported at the hearing by about a dozen customers, said the proposed closing time of 1am for inner-city bars would harm the ‘‘vibrancy’’ in Porirua’s central business district.

‘‘This is home sweet home, and if we detract from the vibrancy the ‘sweet’ is going to be missing from ‘home sweet home’,’’ he said.

His wife Sharifa Isaako said if closing times were pulled back by two hours it would mean a loss of income, and affect their staff’s ability to support their families.

Taeaomanino Trust alcohol and drug counsellor Alapua Poasa said many Pacific families moved to New Zealand for a better life, but alcohol had become a controlling influence in their lives.

‘‘They don’t look forward to their husbands coming home... because they know what’s going to happen.’’

Poasa made a plea for the council to take action that would help to reduce the alcohol-fuelled violence harming Pacific families.

‘‘When you sit down to make your decision I beg you to hear their voices. Feel their sadness before you make your final decision,’’ she said.

Whanau Centre manager Liz Kelly repeated her request that the whole of Cannons Creek be designated a ‘‘ sensitive area’’, and a group of supporters sang a song about alcohol’s harm to the community.

A number of schools and community members talked about the importance of defining these sensitive areas and looking closely at whether the proposed rule about a liquor outlet being 100 metres from a sensitive site was adequate.

Other submitters said it was unfair to put the burden of objecting on to vulnerable communities and it should be up to a liquor licence applicant to prove there was no harm.

Council staff will consider feedback and put a final draft policy to council for approval, likely before the end of this year.