Proposed Reforms Very Tepid Says Hospitality Group

News Release 23 August 2010

Proposed Alcohol Reforms Very Tepid Says Wellington Hospitality Group

Wellington hospitality company, Trinity Group, says the government’s announcements on alcohol reform are very tepid.

Jeremy Smith, Trinity Group’s managing director, says, “We’re pleased that the government wants to increase the age that young people can buy alcohol from off-licences from 18 years old to 20. Trinity also supports what looks like a government compromise in retaining the current alcohol purchase age in an on-licence at 18 years old. Licensed premises encourage eating, drinking and socialising in a pleasant and controlled setting, under the supervision of experienced staff and other adult patrons.”

The government wants to restrict opening hours for licensed premises from 8am to 4am the following morning. Jeremy Smith says, “This proposal has some unintended consequences as many on-licenses open early to serve breakfast. Making it illegal to open until 8am shows the government’s lack of understanding of the environment in which licensed premises operate. We don’t open just to sell alcohol. Running an on-license means providing a social and hospitable environment in which our patrons enjoy having a meal – whether it is breakfast, morning coffee, lunch or dinner – irrespective of whether they have a drink or not.

“The proposed restrictions of on-licence hours will also have a major impact on the screening of live international sports events that, due to the international time differences, are watched at times that frequently fall outside those prescribed hours. Yesterday’s Tri-Nations rugby game between New Zealand and South Africa screened at 2.30am-5am is a good example of that.”

The government has also indicated that liquor licenses will be more difficult to obtain and easier to lose. It wants to introduce a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ regime where a bar owner or operator can lose their license after three prosecutions for, say, serving an under-age drinker whilst the offender will not be held responsible.

Jeremy Smith adds, “Our major disappointment is that the government is not encouraging personal responsibility and accountability. Underage drinkers should be prosecuted and fined for offences such as presenting false ID. The onus should be on the person buying alcohol to prove their age and responsibility, not for the bar owner to be prosecuted, and perhaps ultimately lose their licence, for serving someone whose ID appears to be legal. It simply does not pass the fairness test.”

Trinity Group is frustrated that the government has not introduced measures to make it illegal to be intoxicated in a public place. It believes the government has missed the opportunity to send a very clear and powerful message to all New Zealanders, that intoxication, wherever it occurs is unacceptable.

Trinity Group says that whilst a good start has been made on alcohol reform, it believes the government has not gone far enough. “Making drinkers more responsible and accountable for their behaviour and not accepting irresponsible drinking must be urgently addressed. The government must take that step to ensure we have well-considered and fair alcohol legislation. This is the one chance New Zealand has to get it right, so the government must ensure that it does,” says Jeremy Smith.

ENDS

W www.trinitygroup.co.nz

F http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Wellington/Trinity-Group-Holdings/117055411675995?ref=ts&__a=15&ajaxpipe=1

Trinity Group Ltd: Background

Trinity Group is a specialist hospitality company based in Wellington. It owns and operates bars, restaurants, bottle stores, and hotels and motels in the lower half of the North Island; it also owns and operates two resorts in Vanuatu.

Trinity Group hosted a public forum on Tuesday, 27 July at Wellington’s St Johns Bar that put forward its views on the Law Commission’s recommendations. Led by Jeremy Smith, the Hon Peter Dunne, Leader of United Future Party and Associate Minister of Health and Gerard Vaughan, CEO of the Alcohol Advisory Council of NZ also spoke at the forum before it was thrown open to the floor for questions and commentary.

Trinity Group is a supporter of www.drinkresponsibly.co.nz

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