Submissions open on Sale and Supply of Alcohol Amendment Bill
Thu 12 Jan 2023
The government is inviting public submissions on the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Bill by 12 February 2023.
Submissions open on Sale and Supply of Alcohol Amendment Bill
Update: The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Bill passed its third reading in August 2023.
The Justice Committee is calling for public submissions on the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Bill.
The closing date to make a submission is 12 February 2023.
The purpose of the bill is "...to improve communities' ability to influence alcohol regulation in their area by making targeted changes to the alcohol licensing process provided for in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012."
Justice Minister Kiritapu Allan introduced the bill in December 2022. She said:
"This Bill implements the first phase of alcohol reforms and will give power back to the community. The changes will address three persistent issues identified by local communities:
*Difficulties in adopting and applying local alcohol policies (LAPs)
*The excessive limits placed on who can object to licence applications, and
*The legalistic and adversarial nature of alcohol licensing hearings."
In October 2022, Minister Allan announced the plans for reform and said:
"These amendments are just the first steps in fixing alcohol laws. The Government will be doing future work to look at licensing structures and processes, marketing and sponsorship, pricing, and changes to ensure the law is responsive to new products and retail models."
Minister Allan has said that she will consider the Government’s plan for the second phase of alcohol reforms early this year.
One News interviewed Minister Allan about the alcohol reform plans.
Hāpai te Hauora and Alcohol Healthwatch welcomed the bill. Executive Director of Alcohol Healthwatch, Dr Nicki Jackson said:
"For any person, or organisation serving their communities, wanting to have a say about how alcohol is sold in their neighbourhood, this Bill paves the way for more meaningful and fair contribution. We’re pleased to hear the calls of the community answered and respected."
See the related media below for more information and comments from advocates.
Update: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has announced that the government will postpone the second phase of reforms, with the media release noting:
"Deferring advice on the second part of legislation looking at alcohol reform that relate to pricing, sponsorship and advertising. This will now be pushed back to April 2024, rather than come to Ministers in March this year."
Chlöe Swarbrick and Rebecca Williams, the Executive Director of Alcohol Healthwatch, spoke to Today FM about the announcement to delay the second phase of reform.
More information
The bill is different to Chlöe Swarbrick's Member's bill, Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Harm Minimisation) Amendment Bill. This bill had its first reading and debate on 7 December 2022, but debate was not finished before Parliament adjourned for the holidays. For more information about how Swarbrick's Member's bill is different, see the Conversation article Why New Zealand must consider restricting alcohol sponsorship of broadcast sports as part of a wider law reform and the NZ Herald article Green MP Chloe Swarbrick forces Government's hand on alcohol reform.
For more information about the link between alcohol and violence, see our bibliography for Alcohol and other drugs and family violence (2015) or search our library under the term alcohol.
Related news
Hāpai te Hauora is calling together marae, hapū and iwi leaders, community activators, public policy advocates and Hauora Māori Kaimahi to wānanga how alcohol policy in Aotearoa can be reimagined when informed by Te Āo Māori. The free event is scheduled to take place 19-20 January 2023 in Auckland. Register to attend.
Related media
Policy purge: Chris Hipkins cuts a swathe of once trumpeted Government projects, Stuff, 13.03.2023
Public, organisations have say on proposed changes to alcohol rules, Stuff, 01.03.2023
Alcohol Harm Reduction w/ Sarah Sneyd, 95bFM, 10.11.2022
Community relief as booze barristers get shut out, Waatea News, 01.11.2022
Law change hope for booze busters, Waatea News, 31.10.2022
Māori blocked from waipiro decisions, Waatea News, 21.10.2022
Why we want to see an end to alcohol sponsorship, Stuff, 12.10.2022
Image: Jill Burrow on Pexels
