Council to renew club licence for staff drinks

A social club at the Marlborough District Council is looking to renew its liquor licence so council staff can ‘‘catch up’’ at the end of the working week.

The council last month lodged an application with its own licensing committee to continue the social club licence at its Blenheim building, on Seymour St.

Council staff pay the licence renewal fee of $368, plus an annual fee of $161, and pay for their own drinks.

If approved, the licence would allow staff and their partners to buy and drink alcohol on Thursdays and Fridays between 5pm and 8pm from a qualified bar manager – who is also a staff member – in the building’s cafeteria.

A council spokeswoman said club social nights were ‘‘rarely’’ held on Thursdays, except for the club’s annual general meeting. The 190 members instead met up ‘‘every few Fridays’’ for the ‘‘odd social drink’’, and to think up external events for members and their families.

‘‘It’s more activity-focused than a Friday night drink thing,’’ she said. ‘‘Friday evenings provide staff with an opportunity to catch up socially.’’

Staff who opted into the club paid a membership fee, which covered some subsidised events and an end-of-year dinner, she said. Members paid extra if they bought alcohol at the Friday meet-ups, or if they attended external events organised by the club committee.

She confirmed that the building had an active social club licence. The council’s website says a club licence allows businesses to supply or sell alcohol for a sports or incorporated club, including a social club. ‘‘We’re just like everyone else when it comes to application renewals.’’

Marlborough Mayor and district licensing committee chair John Leggett said the club’s application would be looked over by the committee, police and a medical officer of health before it was officially signed off.

‘‘If there’s liquor involved, they have to go through it like anyone else.’’

He said he was not a part of the social club, as it was for staff.

The Tasman District Council confirmed that it had held a liquor licence for its staff social club for many years.

Objections to the renewal can be submitted by March 20.