Auckland Council has unanimously agreed to support Auckland Central MP Chloe Swarbrick’s Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Harm Minimisation) Amendment Bill.

The Bill would remove the special appeal process against Local Alcohol Policies, or LAP, as well as wind down alcohol advertising and sponsorship of sports.

Auckland still doesn’t have a working local alcohol policy because of legal challenges from supermarkets.

Analysis by Auckland Regional Public Health Service found over a four year period only 1 percent of alcohol licence applications were challenged, and 86 percent of those licences were eventually granted.

Māori public health agency Hāpai Te Hauora says it’s unacceptable local communities aren’t able to properly advocate for fewer alcohol outlets.

Māori public health general manager Tara Dymus says getting rid of the special appeals process will encourage more community involvement in alcohol harm reduction initiatives.

She says there is a disproportionate link between rangatahi Māori and Pasifika and exposure to alcohol via advertising and marketing within sports.