Engaging with alcohol regulation in your community – Have your say
Creating an easier experience for communities to engage with alcohol regulation locally in New Zealand is the aim of the government’s Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Bill.
It is currently open for public submission, with an opportunity for individuals, businesses and organisations to have their say.
At this week’s Council meeting Hurunui District Council’s submission on this Bill was unanimously agreed to around the table.
The Bill aims to enhance community participation in the alcohol licensing process and improve community input.
The Bill is reviewing who can object to an alcohol license application, the formalities of an alcohol license hearing, and making the process of creating Local Alcohol Policies easier by removing the ability to appeal them.
Council supports these aims of enhancing community participation but has raised some concerns as to whether the proposed changes will be effective.
Mayor Marie Black, deputy chairperson of the District Licensing Committee (DLC), said due to the formality of the process of obtaining an alcohol license, a level of formality must still be upheld around the hearing process.
She said although the Bill proposes to remove the requirement s102(1) whereby to speak at a hearing, the objector must display ‘greater interest in the application than the public generally,’ the Council’s concern is that if this step is not retained, some objections expressed at the hearings may not meet the criteria that the DLC must consider.
“DLCs can only consider certain criteria when deciding on a license application, therefore the members of the public objecting will still require a sufficient level of understanding the grounds on which they can object,” said Mayor Black.
She said while this proposed change to the Bill may make it more inviting for the public to be involved in this process, their input at the hearing still needs to meet a defined set of criteria outlined in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.
Any time a valid objection is received in relation to an alcohol license, the DLC is required to hold a hearing.
“The Bill suggests that anyone can object to an application and then speak to a hearing about their objection, but as a Council we believe there should still be a process to ensure the substance of an objection is relevant.”
More hearings also means more cost to the ratepayer, and a more drawn-out and potentially frustrating process for both the applicant and the concerned members of public.
The Council fully supports the changes aimed at making the process of creating and implementing Local Alcohol Policies easier.
If you would like to submit to Parliament’s Justice Committee on the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Bill, please click on the link below.
The window for submissions closes on Sunday February 12, 2023.
