Community asked to help shape Local Alcohol Policy
Should we limit the number of off-license premises in Waipā? This is one of the questions the community are being asked to help guide Waipā’s Draft Local Alcohol Policy.
Feedback is also being sought on:
- How close off-licence premises should be to each other; and
- What the maximum trading hours for off-licence premises should be.
Off-licences are premises such as supermarkets and bottle stores where you can purchase alcohol to consume off-site. As of February 2024, there were 37 off-licence premises in Waipā.
Group manager district growth and regulatory services, Wayne Allan said early feedback would help shape the Draft Local Alcohol Policy that will go out for formal consultation later this year.
“There is evidence in Waipā that off-licences are more likely to cause alcohol-related harm because of exposure to alcohol advertising and alcohol consumption away from a supervised area. We want to find a balance between allowing people to buy alcohol and making sure we do the best we can to help reduce harm in the community,” Allan said.
The community will also be asked for feedback on the Draft Public Places Alcohol Control Bylaw and the introduction of an Alcohol Fees Bylaw when the draft policy is consulted on later this year.
Feedback opens today (March 4, 2024) and will close on Friday, March 29. Further information and feedback can be provided online at waipadc.govt.nz/lapreview and at Council offices and libraries.