The Government is taking on big booze retailers with the launch of a two-stage reform of alcohol laws.
It may soon be easier for communities to oppose liquor companies setting up shop in their neighbourhood.
That's a key message behind proposed changes to alcohol laws revealed today by the government.
It will also examine alcohol sponsorship and marketing.
Alcohol harm is everywhere, and for people like Rawiri Ratu, an anti-alcohol campaigner, it’s scary.
He’s seen it first hand, right in the middle of his community. He recalled to 1News a story about an 11-year-old-girl who was found drunk right in the town centre, with the can still sitting next to her.
Opposing a new liquor licence is not easy, Ratu said.
“My first appearance, I tried to go head to head with a couple of lawyers and got absolutely spanked,” he said.
The Government says that's a common story, and licensing hearings aren't working.
Speaking exclusively to 1News political editor Jessica Mutch McKay on Q+A, Justice Minister Kiritapu Allan revealed how and why the changes would be made.
Kiri Allan said alcohol is "so ingrained in our culture". (Source: 1News)
The first stage will make changes to alcohol licensing, giving community opponents to liquor licences more power to have their say over how alcohol sales are regulated in their neighbourhoods.
That will also include "removing the unnecessary formality of [licensing] hearings, including the ability for cross-examination", said Allan.
Allan said she's heard from many communities "about the proliferation and accessibility of alcohol stores in their backyard".
The workaround procedural matters will begin this year, she said, because communities had asked for that work to be prioritised.
The second part of the reforms will look at alcohol sponsorship and advertisement, along with changes to ensure the law covers new products and evolving retail models, such as instant delivery.
"Let's be frank – alcohol and New Zealanders, it's so ingrained in our culture. To address those broader issues is complex."
Allan said discussions around this could be fraught, particularly because sales of alcohol both create social harm and also provide money for community organisations and programmes through grants and sponsorship.
"I want to make sure we're not being too reactionary, and we have a plan in place to address the on-flow consequences."
Earlier in October, league icon and former alcohol marketer Sir Graham Lowe told Q+A he was "disillusioned" by the slow progress on kicking alcohol sponsorship out of professional sport.
"Too many politicians think they're in there to win a popularity contest. They're there to put forward … tough decisions, and I don't think they've got the guts to do it," said Lowe.
Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick currently has a member's bill before Parliament aiming to regulate alcohol more tightly, with several similar provisions to the Government's just-announced approach.
Allan said the Government was putting forward their own legislation instead because "I think it requires an all-of-government response".
Change is also coming for councils who struggle to bring in alcohol policies in the face of constant legal appeals.
Christchurch’s provisional rules were abandoned after costs topped more than $1 million, over half a decade.
Auckland’s policy is still being appealed after a seven-year battle with a price tag of more than $1 million too.
And the Far-North’s plan has been dumped after costing the council around $200,000.
To stop this, the government will remove the right of appeal in council hearings.
“We aren’t removing any element of democracy, what we’re doing is ensuring fairness,” Allan said.
She says a bill will be introduced before Christmas.
The National Party won’t support removing the right of appeal but agrees change is needed.
The alcohol industry says it looks forward to debating the effectiveness of the laws.
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