Having a say on alcohol
Hundreds have voiced their support for a draft policy which would restrict where and when alcohol is sold in Porirua – but they could still have a battle on their hands.
More than 200 submissions were made to Porirua City Council on the draft Local Alcohol Policy, including one from the Whanau Centre in Cannons Creek, which had gathered more than 500 signatures in support.
The Whanau Centre asked that Cannons Creek be designated a ‘‘ sensitive area’’ and want the number of liquor outlets restricted to its two current stores.
Titahi Bay North School supported a group of pupils to put together a submission which asked for liquor stores to only be open from 5pm till 9pm.
Teacher Tim Brewer said the group had worked with an adviser from Regional Public Health to write the submission, but the children had firsthand experience to draw on.
Nine-year-old Zenin Mea said alcohol can make adults go a bit crazy and make them take out their anger on other people. She recently picked up a beer bottle from the school grounds and put it in the bin.
Koopu Waipara, 12, said when adults drink in the home they can sometimes threaten their kids and she’s noticed people coming into the school grounds and smashing bottles.
‘‘Sometimes there can even be blood on the ground.’’ There are two liquor stores and a pub near the school, including one next to the dairy the children buy lollies from, and the pupils want the law changed so they are prohibited near schools.
Russell School principal Sose Annandale said in her submission that since nearby Thirsty Liquor had closed, pupils felt safer.
‘‘The school has only had one broken window since the liquor store closure and we have not had any significant damage, graffiti, or alcohol- related litter in our school grounds; we no longer have drunk people gathering in our school car park or walking through our school.’’
But some liquor outlets, and pubs and clubs, have asked for more reasonable rules. Bar owner Jimmy Isaako has said it was unfair to restrict the trading hours of pubs and clubs because it penalised responsible hosts and most alcohol- related crime happened away from bars.
‘‘If it isn’t broken there is no need to fix it. A 2am closing time in the CBD is as justifiable as a 1am closing time in the suburbs.’’
Independent Liquor has taken issue with supermarkets being allowed to sell alcohol longer.
Super Liquor Holdings has also asked for consistency in off-licence trading hours and wants an 11pm closing time for all.
Porirua City Council will hear people who made submissions on Thursday and will draft a final policy before November. What is the Local Alcohol Policy? Local government can decide where and when alcohol is sold in their community, and Porirua City Council has drafted a policy which sets those hours and conditions. They asked people for feedback on whether or not:
Pubs and clubs should have to stop selling alcohol at 1am, and could be open from 8am.
Liquor stores in the city centre and suburbs, and grocery stores in the suburbs, should have to stop selling at 9pm. Supermarkets in the central city, such as Pak ’n Save and Countdown in Parumoana St, would have an 11pm licence.