Store withdraws application

A NORTH Dunedin convenience store has withdrawn its application for a liquor licence after what its chief executive said last night was ‘‘continued opposition’’.

Regent Night ’n’ Day’s Tony Allison said despite the company operating in Dunedin since 1978, it was seen as ‘‘low hanging fruit’’ by the likes of the University of Otago, which opposed its licence.

But larger companies, such as the city’s supermarkets, kept their licences.

‘‘If they don’t want beer and wine being sold to students, go and have a look somewhere else, because it ain’t us,’’ Mr Allison said.

The business applied earlier this year for a rollover of its licence conditions.

The application was opposed by the medical officer of health and the Dunedin City Council licensing inspector for reasons including the absence of key documents such as certified annual sales data.

University of Otago vicechancellor Prof Harlene Hayne also opposed the licence, calling on the committee to do ‘‘all in its power’’ to control the density and trading hours of liquor outlets in the student area.

The committee adjourned the meeting until November 14 to allow time for sales figures to be provided, but the applicant withdraw the application, the committee said in its ruling, released yesterday.

Night ’n’ Day asked to be able to continue trading until the end of February as a sellout period, but the committee declined the request.

Mr Allison said the business had fought opposition every time it had to renew its licence.

‘‘It just results in our customers no longer being able to purchase beer and wine from us.

‘‘When you look at that, you go ‘what problem are we trying to solve here?’.’’

He said ‘‘bigger players’’ in food and grocery, including supermarkets, did get licences.

‘‘Realistically, they’re all tending towards conveniencestyle stores now.

‘‘You kind of argue what’s the difference between those who get liquor licences and those who don’t?’’

Mr Allison said it was difficult to compete in terms of price with larger stores, and it was unlikely students would use his store for larger alcohol purchases.

‘‘So really, what are they opposing?

‘‘It just makes it very difficult for us to trade.’’

He said the university had looked at his store and said: ‘‘There’s the lowest hanging fruit, we’ll have a crack at them to get our point across.’’

A Ratbags and its upstairs bar, Innocent Bystander, are the fifth premises in the Octagon/lower Stuart St area to have a oneway door policy imposed.

The business had its hearing last month, when the policy was proposed by police, the medical officer of health and the licensing inspector.

But bar owner Philip Ellis told the committee an unrestricted 4am closing time was his right under the law.

He said at the time there was no reason the business should be restricted.

In February, New Zealand’s major supermarket chains successfully fought Dunedin City Council efforts to restrict alcohol sales in the city when the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA) ruled parts of the council’s local alcohol policy (LAP) were ‘‘unreasonable’’.

The LAP would have limited supermarkets’ offlicence hours, but also included a 2.30am oneway door policy and 3am closing for most innercity bars.

The ruling for Ratbags said the committee had ‘‘resorted to introduce them [oneway door policies] when new and renewal licence applications are put before us’’.

The committee agreed with police imposing them now, before new LAP provisions take effect, would help ‘‘future proof the night life in the city’’.

Mr Ellis said yesterday he was disappointed with the decision, but declined to comment further.

❛ If they don’t want beer and wine being sold to students, go and have a look somewhere else, because it ain’t us