The Government is looking at changing how local councils can introduce rules for alcohol sales. This month parliament will debate Green MP, Chloe Swasbrick’s bill that would block appeals, typically from supermarkets and the liquor industry, to local policies.
“Chloe has rightly raised the issue there around the fact that local alcohol plans were a tool to be used to allow local communities greater control over the sale, supply and distribution of alcohol in their local areas. Unfortunately, they have been challenged and held up to the point that they have not been able to have the effect that Parliament intended. I agree that should be fixed. The question is whether or not a member’s bill is the best way to do that,” said Jacinda Ardern to reporters in Christchurch.
Alcohol Helathwatch found that Foodstuffs and Woolworths have appealed against 94 percent of local alcohol policies. The Auckland Council’s Policy has been halted by legal action for five years with the supermarket giants and has been appealed to the supreme court.