Public Health South has appealed to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority against the decision by the Central Otago District Licensing Committee to grant an off-licence to the shop directors Rhys and Maria Tait, of Alexandra.
The Taits, under the name Upland Foods Ltd, trading as Alexandra Four Square, applied for the licence and the matter was heard in May.
The only objection received was from Public Health South and its opposition related primarily to the location of alcohol within the store, along the back wall.
A Justice Department spokesman said yesterday the department would not confirm who appealed decisions to the authority.
There was no date set down for hearing this matter yet as a notice of hearing had not yet been issued. Central Otago District Council licensing inspector Ray Applegarth said this appeal was the first of its type against a decision by the district licensing committee.
In its notice of appeal to the authority, Southern District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Keith Reid said the committee did not properly consider the section of the alcohol laws relating to limiting exposure of shoppers to alcohol displays.
The Alexandra store had an alcove which would be more suitable for the display of alcohol than the current site as it would limit shoppers' exposure to the display of alcohol, Dr Reid said, in the grounds for the appeal.
The committee had not heard any evidence about the cost or work needed to relocate the alcohol to this area of the store, so was not ''fully informed'', he said.
Dr Reid also said advertising was displayed on the outside of the store which breached the section of the alcohol laws relating to limiting shoppers' exposure to displays, promotions and advertising of alcohol.
At the hearing in May, medical officer of health Dr Derek Bell said the current alcohol display was ''visible and touchable from at least two main aisles'' and was between everyday grocery items.
He thought more could be done to reduce the exposure of alcohol and suggested moving the display.
Mr Tait told the committee the alcohol display units were plumbed in and could not be shifted without considerable cost.
The area proposed by Dr Bell was close to the ice-cream freezer which was often visited by children.
In the committee's decision on the application, chairman Bob McNeil said the applicant had already relocated the alcohol from an area of high visibility to the back wall of the store.
Although the Ministry of Health was seeking to have complete separation of alcohol from the rest of the items on sale, that was not a requirement of the new laws, Mr McNeil said.
Mr and Mrs Tait could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
