September 23, 2022
Alcohol harm bill a game changer
A Bill restricting appeals against local council decisions on alcohol licensing is described as a game change in what has been a David versus Goliath battle.
Nicki Jackson, of Alcohol Healthwatch, says the Sale and Supply of Alcohol, Harm Minimisation, Amendment Bill now before parliament will give communities a greater in decisions around where, when and how alcohol can be sold.
Until now it’s about who had the deepest pockets.
“Alcohol retailers have come along and says ‘we’ll throw our legal resources into this, our heavy weight, we will water down these policies through the appeals process,’ and their sales won’t be impacted but the communities will continue to suffer alcohol harm,” Dr Jackson says.
The Bill has overwhelming Maori support – which is not a surprise considering the disproportionate harm of alcohol to the Maori community.