Alcohol policy plan open to appeals

Opponents of the tough new alcohol rules proposed for Christchurch have been given until July 7 to challenge them.

The Christchurch City Council has formally notified its Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) which imposes limits on the sale and supply of alcohol in the city.

People who made submissions on the draft LAP when it was prepared in 2013 are now able to lodge appeals against it with national Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA). They can appeal any element of the policy they think is unreasonable in light of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.

Once ARLA has resolved any appeals, the council will formally adopt the LAP. Because Christchurch’s LAP contains trading hour restrictions, it will have to give the hospitality industry three months notice of its intention to enforce it.

Key provisions of the LAP include restricting trading hours for off-licensed premises such as bottle stores and supermarkets to 9am to 9pm and imposing a 1am closing time on pubs, taverns and on-licensed restaurants and cafes in suburban centres. In parts of the central city bars and pubs will be allowed to stay open until 3am but the District Licensing Committee will have the discretion to impose a one-way door policy. Nightclubs in the central city entertainment zone can stay open till 4am.

The Canterbury branch of Hospitality New Zealand has signalled it will lodge an appeal on behalf of its members. It is also encouraging individual businesses to appeal the policy.