Media release from Hospitality NZ

New alcohol laws just increase compliance costs - not individual responsibility

New alcohol laws will do little more than increase the compliance costs for struggling hospitality businesses trying to serve their community, and as others have pointed out, will have little or no affect on how alcohol is managed in society.

This message from Hospitality NZ Chief Executive Bruce Robertson. The devil will be in the detail but higher fees and more licence conditions seemed to be a reality. The detail of the yet to be developed Local Alcohol Policies and yet to be promulgated Regulations particularly related to fees had the potential to have a major impact, increased costs will ultimately be borne by the consumer.

The industry is disappointed the new legislation does nothing to encourage New Zealanders to take responsibility for there own drinking habits. Without measures such as making it an offence to be drunk in a public place it is hard to see a change in the New Zealand drinking culture said Mr Robertson.

Hospitality NZ would be working with the regulators and the Local Authorities to ensure increased cost were minimised and any conditions on liquor licences were practical and would genuinely make a difference to reducing alcohol harm. This was not the Christmas present the industry or consumers were looking for concluded Mr Robertson.

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