Giles
Dexter Political reporter
The
alcohol licensing regime is set for a shake-up, with the
government agreeing to remove annual fees, simplify
applications and extend renewal periods.
The Ministry
for Regulation’s review
of the hospitality sector found, in some cases, the cost
of obtaining a licence outweighed the economic benefit, or
delays led to lost profits and staff being let
go.
Regulation Minister David Seymour said bad
regulation was killing businesses.
“If we are going to
unlock New Zealand’s potential, we need to let Kiwi
businesses get on with business,” he said.
The
ministry has made nine recommendations, with the government
accepting eight:
- Reform alcohol licensing fees,
including by removing annual fees, reducing renewal fees and
introducing inspection fees - Simplify licence
applications and renewal processes - Extend renewal
periods for some alcohol licences - Clarify and
simplify the process and requirements to get an alcohol
licence for the first time, including making licensing
criteria more specific with a simpler application
form - Change District Licensing Committee
arrangements, including allowing them to merge and setting
specific membership and training requirements - Remove
current licence types and replacing them with a single
risk-based alcohol licensing framework over
time - Introduce a nationwide information system about
licences, certificates, compliance activity, performance,
alcohol-related crime, incidents and health
effects - Make one existing agency and the
corresponding Minister responsible for alcohol licensing
regulations
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
The ministry recommended the changes
be implemented by 2029, but Associate Justice Minister
Nicole McKee said she would like to see them in place much
sooner, where practical.
“Regulators need to stop
treating hospitality businesses who want to sell alcohol
like common criminals,” she said.
This parliamentary
term has seen a loosening of alcohol restrictions, with a
member’s bill allowing premises that are already open on
Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day morning and Christmas
Day to sell alcohol under normal licence conditions passing
this year.
Separately, the government is amending
the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to make it more difficult
to object to licence-related applications.
That
legislation would also allow hairdressers to supply
small amounts of alcohol to customers without a licence,
allow breweries, meaderies and distilleries to charge for
samples, make it easier for venues to stock zero-alcohol
drinks and allow restaurants with onsite retail spaces to
sell takeaway alcohol.
The justice committee reported
back on that bill in August.
Hospo sector pleased
with changes
Hospitality New Zealand said the sector
had been clear for a number of years about the pressures and
challenges it faced when applying for or renewing alcohol
licences, including inconsistent decisions, long timeframes
and growing fees.
Chief executive Kristy Phillips said
the Ministry for Regulation’s recommendations would make a
“measurable improvement” in how hospitality businesses
interacted with the regulatory system.
“It’s pleasing
to see ministers and the review recognise the role and
contribution of hospitality businesses to the economy, and
the efforts they put into creating sociable environments for
the community,” she
said.
New Zealand’s public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
