Bottle stores open during lockdown

‘‘Steady-as-she-goes” says the head of Invercargill’s licensing trust, which has experienced typical levels of sales since the Alert Level 4 lockdown began.

ILT chief executive Chris Ramsay said while there was a spike in sales at its stores on Tuesday evening, subsequent days had been similar to what they’d expect on an average weekday.

Tuesday’s sales were up about 30% more than usual.

Under the lockdown rules in Invercargill, taverns and hotels are not open but liquor stores remain open.

Everyone entering the stores seemed to be behaving well, and nobody had been getting upset, he said.

“The lucky part is we’ve done it before.”

Last year’s lockdown was not so smooth for the trust, as it had been unclear whether or not it would be able to open bottle stores.

At the time, Mr Ramsay said he was working with the Government to ensure it was aware of the “unique trading situations” they worked with; Invercargill residents could not buy alcohol from the supermarket.

“The implications of a country-wide closure of bottle stores would mean that areas like Invercargill would be put back in the prohibition era.”

Up the road in Gore, liquor stores are operating in some areas of the district but restaurants and bars are closed. Some accommodation is offered at the Heartland Hotel in Croyden for truck drivers who are viewed as an essential service.