Draft liquor policy out for review

At today’s Council meeting, Councillors gave the go ahead for the draft ‘Sale of Liquor’ policy to go out for community consultation.

 

The objective of the draft policy is to promote a safe drinking environment for Taupo district residents and visitors and minimise alcohol related incidents in line with the ‘Sale of Liquor Act’ and best practice.

 

Group Manager Environmental Services, Gareth Green says this is about Council taking a ‘proactive approach’ to liquor licensing. “We want to work with the industry to promote responsible drinking and behaviours so that people out in town can have a great night and make it home safe and sound. There is no one easy solution and we need to look at the options together and agree on the best strategy to make this a reality. One of the options to review is the trading hours for bars and Council wants to know what the community thinks may be the best outcome for Taupo town.”

 

Currently no bar or nightclub can operate after 3.00am. Within the draft policy, Council officers have provided a range of options for closing times including closing earlier, closing earlier but having a one-way door policy, closing later and not closing at all.

 

Council encourages groups and members of the community to state their preference by making a submission. Mr Green says that Council does not have a preferred option at this stage. “There are a wide range of views in the community about what the closing times should be. We want to ensure everyone in the community with a view on this matter has an opportunity to have a say, and Council will certainly take all of the information into account before making a final decision,” he said.

 

Another proposed change is a requirement of licence holders to have a host responsibility policy in place, to be carried out at all times the premise is open.

 

The draft policy will be out for consultation for one month during which time, Council officers will be talking with a wide number of groups to get feedback. To get a copy of the policy and to make a submission go to www.taupo.govt.nz or ph 07 376 0899.