Licensing committee heeds public concern
Community views upheld in rejection of Waipapa liquor store application
Community and national health experts have applauded the recent rejection of an application for a new liquor store in Waipapa. The decision by the Far North District Licensing Committee, released last week, has sparked hope that community voices can be heard despite the pervasive influence of corporate interests.
Dr Ankush Mittal, medical officer of health, Health New Zealand Te Tai Tokerau, presented evidence that an additional bottle store in the area would be harmful to the community.
“The community and local agencies raised significant concerns around how alcohol was already impacting local communities, with provision already higher than most of the country,” Mittal said.
Similar concerns around the easy availability of alcohol spread far north of Waipapa.
Roberta Kaio, whānau coach at Rongopai House, said the high number of alcohol wholesalers and licensed venues in the Kaitaia town circumference was a concern.
“It affects families in different ways,” Kaio said.
“There’s a spectrum of how alcohol is used, from alcohol use through to alcohol abuse.
“Pregnant women are a definite area of concern.
“Youth who are consuming, and then drink driving, is another concern.
“It’s definitely a culture up here, especially when there’s so much easy access and so many licensed places.”
Dave Hookway, who is a Manu Hā pori Hauora/community wellbeing adviser at Te Whatu Ora, described our society as “alcogenic”, which refers to its revolution around drinking.
In short, it’s a drinking culture. And the latest estimates of alcohol-related harm see it costing a total of $7.8 billion per year.
“I’m pleased that the voice of the community has been heard,” Hookway said.
“The decision acknowledges that our community already has a significant number of alcohol outlets, and that adding further premises would only lead to increased harm.”
Hookway has been working to support whānau affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
The community and local agencies raised
significant concerns around how alcohol was already impacting local
communities, with provision already higher than most of the country. Medical officer of health Dr Ankush
Mittal (above)
for 15 years. He said at least 200 babies born in Northland each year will be permanently affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.
He lamented that our current policies are not all based on evidence.
“It’s clear that reducing the availability of alcohol leads to reduced harm.
“In the future, I hope we can all work together across agencies and as a community to establish Local Alcohol Policies in Northland that give heed to such community concerns.
“These policies will have the power to further limit the proliferation of alcohol outlets.”
According to Dr Sam McBride, chair of Alcohol Action NZ, hazardous drinking in New Zealand has been
enabled by the prioritisation of industry over public health.
“Policy settings prioritise industry rather than health, with the result that there are 800,000 hazardous drinkers in New Zealand,” said McBride.
“Health services deal with a huge burden of alcohol-related harm, which affect our most vulnerable communities in particular.
“We must deal with the drivers of harm, not just the consequences.”
Twenty public objections were received, many of which focused on saturation of alcohol off-licences and existing alcohol-related harm.
Other objections raised the issues of proximity to a petrol station, an existing preschool, proposed school, and residences — as well as increased traffic build-up, noise, graffiti, and vandalism.
There was also general concern around alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes in the Far North, which Dr Mittal described as some of the highest in the country.
If you or your wha¯nau need support, there is an expert who can help near you. Visit support.alcohol.org.nz.