Hospitality New Zealand (Hospitality NZ) is dissatisfied to see the Sale and Provide of Alcohol (Group Participation) Modification Invoice cross at present, largely ignoring suggestions from hospitality homeowners all through the invoice’s progress and with out correct consideration of the results for license holders.
Chief Govt Steve Armitage says the invoice will trigger unintended penalties for licence holders.
“The Invoice is not going to measurably affect alcohol hurt minimisation, regardless of the amendments it’s making to the Act. It’s going to nonetheless create immense uncertainty for license holders and undermine in any other case profitable and accountable companies.
“Hospitality NZ helps the hurt minimisation goals of the invoice however we don’t consider it can work as supposed.
“Whereas there are a variety of points we see with the invoice, our main frustration pertains to permitting District Licensing Committees to take new Native Alcohol Insurance policies under consideration when contemplating renewals, together with the power to say no license renewals if they’re seen as inconsistent with any new LAP.
“Below this clause, if a brand new LAP imposed licence density restrictions or buffer zones then these might be grounds for declining renewals, with out consideration of the standing of the present licensed premise.
“Hospitality NZ believes decreasing entry to alcohol doesn’t routinely imply you cut back hurt, because the numbers clearly present. Earlier than the implementation of the Sale of Liquor Act in 1989 there have been about 3000 licenses throughout New Zealand. There are actually 11,000, however since 1986 alcohol consumption has been lowering, and is now down 25 per cent.
“Extra licensed premises and extra locations to buy alcohol has not translated into increased consumption, as this invoice assumes.
“Hospitality venues recognise the hurt alcohol can do when not loved responsibly, which is why we assist strikes round hurt minimisation.
“Nevertheless, this invoice merely doesn’t meaningfully affect hurt minimisation, and as an alternative undermines our trade and the position our venues play in communities throughout Aotearoa.
“Venues run by accountable hosts stay the most secure place for individuals to be social and safely and responsibly take pleasure in alcohol,” stated Armitage.
