The city's bars and liquor outlets will now be governed by a new set of rules first drafted in 2014 after the Dunedin City Council yesterday voted to adopt a watered down local alcohol policy.
Changes include reduced on-licence and off-licence hours and the introduction of a one-way door policy from 2.30am which would stop new patrons from entering after that time.
The new policy was signed off by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (Arla) earlier this month.
When the draft policy was released in 2014 it attracted more than 4000 submissions and originally included a proposal to cut off-licence hours from 7am-11pm back to 9am-9pm.
It also proposed a moratorium on most types of bottle stores in North Dunedin, a requirement for alcohol management plans for off-licences, and the requirement for a certificate from the council's planning department for off-licences.
But Arla ruled parts of the council's policy were unreasonable and there was no evidence they would reduce alcohol-related harm after an appeal by supermarket giants, Progressive Enterprises and Foodstuffs, as well as six other parties.
Speaking after the policy was adopted, Mayor Dave Cull said while the policy was an improvement on the previous rules, the process to get there was like taking one step forward and two steps back.
He has been critical of the local alcohol policy process and has labelled it a ''farce'' which put commercial interests ahead of the community.
''I think we will be putting the effort in during the coming years to achieve better controls than we were able to achieve this time, and that may take a law change,'' Mr Cull said.
Cr Aaron Hakwins said while the adoption of the policy was a success, there was still more to be done to reduce the harm caused by alcohol.
Cr Damian Newell said the policy was not exactly what the council and community wanted but it was now one tool which could be used to reduce alcohol-related harm in the city.
