23 Feb 2013

Councils join forces over new alcohol regulations

1:30 pm on 23 February 2013

New alcohol regulations for the top of the South Island are close to being finalised.

The Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough councils are working to bring in a stricter alcohol policy allowing them to limit the location or number of liquor-licensed premises near specific neighbourhoods, such as churches or schools.

The Sale and Supply of Liquor Act 2012 lets councils give communities a greater say on alcohol policies.

The new regulations will allow opening hours to be restricted or extended, or fix one-way door policies to be imposed on certain establishments.

Tasman mayor Richard Kempthorne says it is not uncommon for councils to work together.

"Over the last year or so there has been a much greater focus on working together.

"There are high-level managers within each council who are helping to identify all of the opportunities for working together so that things don't slip through the cracks."

Nelson mayor Aldo Micciosays there has been a mixed response from owners of licensed premises.

"There will be some licensees that are fearful that it might impinge on some of the rights that they've had to, I guess, self-determine their own hours.

"But we just want to let them know we want to work together with them and try to find the best outcomes for everybody."