The alcohol policy was approved in 2015 by The Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Committee, but an unsuccessful legal challenge by Woolworths and Foodstuffs delayed it from being implemented. Photo: 123rf.com
Auckland Council are set to decide when supermarkets and liquor stores in the city will not be able to sell alcohol after 9pm.
The council will at the same time enforce a two-year freeze on new off-licences in the city centre and other priority areas, mostly in South Auckland.
A majority of councillors are expected to support the changes which are a part of the Auckland Local Alcohol Policy (LAP).
Mayor Wayne Brown and councillors had been asked to choose a date for the new rules to come in at its monthly meeting on Thursday.
Communities Against Alcohol Harm spokesperson Dr Grant Hewison said an earlier cut-off time to buy booze would prevent risky drinking.
"The shift in hours from 11pm to 9pm for off-licenses will certainly reduce late-night drinking - the more risky, opportunistic drinking that happens during the late-night period.
"It will bring to communities a reduction in alcohol-related harm."
The alcohol policy was approved in 2015 by an independent tribunal - The Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Committee (ARLA).
But an unsuccessful legal challenge by Woolworths and Foodstuffs delayed it from being implemented.
Dr Hewison said communities across the region welcomed the council's plans to adopt stricter rules on the sale of alcohol after years of waiting.
"Communities I work with, especially in South Auckland, Māori communities, Pacific communities do experience high levels of alcohol-related harm and think this LAP will be quite beneficial.
"They'll be welcoming the restrictions, particularly in more vulnerable areas."
He encouraged all councillors and the mayor to "do the right thing and stand up for their communities".
"Of course we're hoping this is passed unanimously. But certainly we're expecting it be passed at a minimum with a majority."
Once the LAP was introduced, Hewison said it needed to be reviewed to take into account new challenges.
"There's a range of things becoming commonplace since it was first developed 10 years ago that would be appropriate to bring into the LAP relatively quickly.
"Particularly external signage requirements and reducing harm, through no single can sales."
National Public Health Service - Northern Region medical health officer Dr June Leung agreed the LAP would need to be updated.
"I would like to see the LAP be implemented as soon as possible.
"But online sales have become more common and it will be important to evaluate how the LAP can address that in future."
She said the public health service believed the LAP could decrease violence in Auckland.
"There is evidence from New Zealand showing having more alcohol outlets in neighbourhoods is associated with more crime and car crashes.
"Limiting trading hours of alcohol outlets at night is also associated with less acute alcohol harm like assault."
She said limiting alcohol availability in certain areas was about addressing inequities in our communities.
"There is a higher availability of alcohol in neighbourhoods where more Māori and Pacific young people reside, and as a result, they are more exposed to marketing from these retailers."
