Representatives from three Southland councils have been told loud and clear most submitters do not agree with major changes proposed in their combined draft local alcohol policy (Lap).
Almost 550 submissions were received.
The first day of hearings was held in Invercargill on Wednesday. Further hearings were held in Te Anau on Thursday and Gore yesterday.
The purpose of the policy is to minimise alcohol-related harm, but many submitters said that would not be achieved by the earlier closing of bottle stores or the one-way door trial.
The 12-month trial, suggested by the New Zealand Police, would result in patrons leaving bars or taverns after 1am unable to get into any other venues. It would include patrons in the tourist town of Te Anau and of country hotels. After 12 months the trial would be evaluated to see if the policy should remain. As part of the consultation process, the councils circulated a feedback form on the major changes proposed.
Of the submitters who responded to the question about the one-way trial, 81% were opposed to it happening in Invercargill and Gore, and 82% in Te Anau. A total of 86% said bottle stores should be allowed to remain open until 11pm or midnight. The policy proposes to allow bars and taverns to remain open until 3am as they do now, and 46% of submitters agreed with that, with 24% saying closing time should be 2am and 20% opting for 4am.
More than 75% of submitters said they would continue to party somewhere else if bars closed earlier.
Draft local alcohol policy
• The policy, drafted by the Invercargill city and Gore and Southland district councils, proposes. -
• Bottle stores close at 10pm daily rather than 11pm.
• Trialling a 1am one-way door policy.
• Requiring owners of licensed premises to consult neighbours before applying for any significant change in business hours.
• Requiring community impact statements to be written to accompany applications for new bottle stores.
• Introducing a specific security-staff-to-patron ratio.
• Limiting the number of drinks able to be bought at the bar to one per person.
• Introducing a period of 10 minutes per hour when no drinks can be bought.
