Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Alcohol watchdog urges councils to act

Updated at 11:26 am on 3 January 2012

Alcohol Healthwatch says there is plenty that councils can be doing to prevent alcohol problems while everyone waits for the Alcohol Reform Bill to be passed and acted on.

In his election campaign last year, Auckland mayor Len Brown said he would reduce the number of outlets in the city selling alcohol.

That has not yet happened, and his office says this is because the council is waiting to see how the bill affects the retail sale of liquor.

Alcohol Healthwatch says that might mean a more than three-year delay and there are many communities struggling with the issue right now.

The organisation says councils could pass temporary bylaws dealing with the current situation.

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