Auckland City Council is to develop a comprehensive alcohol policy, with particular emphasis on the sale of alcohol at public events.

The study will also look at the thorny questions of the suitability of specific sites being considered in liquor licensing applications and the Council’s ability to control the consumption of alcohol in public places.

Councillor Richard Northey, chairperson of the Council’s Advocacy Committee, said an initial scoping report clearly identified the need for the Council to have a cross-organisational alcohol strategy.

“This is an important area for the Council to be taking a leadership role and formulating a policy which will assist the responsible promotion and consumption of alcohol,” said Councillor Northey.

“We need to investigate the possible ramifications of any significant change in attitude towards alcohol, particularly at public events and in the sponsorship of them.”

Councillor Northey said that as part of the review there would be support for a change in the Local Government Act that would enable the suitability of specific sites in relation to schools, social service agencies and the like, to be considered in liquor licensing applications.

He said the study would also be particularly relevant to the Council to act to control the consumption of alcohol in inappropriate public places.

Councillor Northey said this was being addressed in a Member’s Bill by National list MP, Anne Tolley, and also in the review of the Local Government Act.

He said that once the Council had a development policy, it could be in support of either the Tolley Bill or the review dealing with the issue in the Local Government Act.

“Either way, it’s important that the Council has its voice clearly heard, as most alcohol-related issues impact on the city in one way or another.”

ENDS

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