30 August 2013

Community Submissions Wanted For Draft Local Alcohol Policy

Liquor Liaison Group meetings on the new laws governing the supply of alcohol and the introduction of a Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) for Ruapehu attracted a strong turnout this week.

The meetings put on by Ruapehu District Council (RDC) in both Taumarunui and Ohakune brought together representatives from the local hospitability industry and official agencies.

RDC Policy Planner, Katherine Ivory, said that is was very pleasing to see the strong turnout with around 40 people attending each meeting.

“With the new rules introducing some major changes for anyone involved in the selling or supply of liquor the meetings were an opportunity for hospitality providers to find out how they may be impacted and have questions answered.”

“The questions covered a wide range of issues from; new certification requirements, special licences, fake and foreign ids, alcohol promotions, new fee structures, etc through to questions on rubbish collection,” she said.

“Council also presented the key features of the draft LAP such as the proposed trading hours which are for 1.00am closing in Taumarunui and Ohura and 3.00am in Waimarino.”

Ms Ivory said that from 18 December the current District Licencing Agency will be replaced by a District Licencing Committee which will make all liquor licencing decisions within the district.”

“The new District Licencing Committee will use the LAP as a guiding document which will replace Ruapehu’s existing Liquor Licensing Policy.”

“Because the LAP can set such things as restrictions on licenced premise’s trading hours and location and the number of licences in an area it is important that community organisations and individuals not involved in the supply of liquor also have their say.”

“The views of the professional liquor suppliers involved with bars, restaurants and accommodation will be well represented in the submissions,” she said.

“For example the draft LAP does not propose limits on the number of on or off licences in a district or their location.”

“Council would like to have the viewpoint and comments from non-hospitability sources in the submission mix as well and this is the type of issue local communities or individuals may well wish to have a say on.”

Ms Ivory noted that once the LAP is adopted it will technically only need to be reviewed every six years and making changes in the interim will be a lengthy and difficult process.

“Council urges anyone in the community not directly involved in the liquor industry to use this opportunity to tell us what is important to them in Ruapehu’s LAP.”

“Submissions to the draft LAP close on Friday 27 September.”

Anyone requiring more information can pick-up a Summary of Information from any council office, online at www.ruapehudc.govt.nz or call Katherine Ivory via any RDC office.

ENDS

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