Alcohol licensing is overseen by several pieces of both local and national government legislation. It is important that you know what these are and how they function together if you are wanting to sell alcohol safely.
Alcohol licensing law in New Zealand is set by the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. The object of the Act is that the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol should be undertaken safely and responsibly, and that the harm caused by excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol is minimised.
Key features of the Act include:
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 allows councils to develop local alcohol policies. A local alcohol policy (LAP) is a set of decisions made by a local authority in consultation with its community about the sale and supply of alcohol in its geographical area.
The aim of Porirua's LAP is to minimise alcohol-related harm in Porirua, reflect local communities’ character, amenity, values, preferences and needs, and to encourage licensed premises to foster positive and responsible drinking behaviours.
Key features of the Porirua Local Alcohol Policy
As well as Porirua's LAP, the Council also has an Alcohol Control Bylaw. The purpose of this Bylaw is to control the consumption and/or possession of alcohol in public places to reduce alcohol-related harm in the area.
Key features of the Alcohol Control Bylaw include:
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act requires each local authority to establish a district licensing committee (DLC). The DLC determines applications for alcohol licences and managers' certificates.
More details on Porirua's DLC and its functions are outlined below. If you need more information about Porirua's committee (or about district licensing committees in general), please contact us via phone (ask for alcohol licensing) or email us.
A district licensing committee's functions are to consider and determine applications for:
The DLC also, where appropriate, refers applications, conducts inquiries and makes reports to the licensing authority (ARLA) when required.
Chair and Deputy Chair:
Appointed list members: