May 2025
Background
After testing some ideas that could be included in a draft Local Alcohol Policy for Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, the Christchurch City Council are now consulting on their proposed LAP.
Survey Questions
Reduction in off-licensed maximum trading hours to 9pm
Do you support the proposal to reduce all off-licensed retailers’ maximum trading hours to 9pm across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula?
This means all bottle stores, supermarkets, specialty stores, small grocery stores, wineries and Working Men’s Clubs would have to stop selling alcohol to take off the premises no later than 9pm each day.
- I support part of this proposal
Additional feedback
The Restaurant Association strongly supports moves to reduce alcohol-related harm. We believe that any decisions regarding reducing trading hours should be evidence-based rather than intuition-based or speculative about what could reduce alcohol-related harm, and while there is no evidence from any Council that reducing trading hours for off-licence outlets or on-licence venues reduces alcohol-related harm, we submit the Council should commit to measuring the impact of this policy.
Place a freeze on new off-licences in high deprivation areas
Do you support a freeze on granting an off-licence to new premises in areas that service high deprivation communities (decile 8, 9 and 10)?
Applicants who can show that their primary purpose is not the sale and supply of alcohol may apply for an exemption.
- Yes
Additional feedback
We support the Council’s proposal, particularly given any freeze on new licences applies specifically to off-licences—allowing our food businesses to continue to contribute to the sense of community and the vibe that our cities need.
Restricting new bottle stores’ proximity to sensitive community facilities
Do you support restricting new bottle stores from opening within 200 metres of addiction treatment/rehabilitation centres, primary schools and secondary schools in all Christchurch suburbs except Banks Peninsula and inside the central city (inside the four avenues)?
- Yes
Additional feedback
We support the Council’s proposal, particularly given any freeze on new licences applies specifically to bottle stores—which we maintain pose the most significant risk for alcohol-related harms of any licence.
Restricting new bottle stores’ proximity to sensitive community facilities
Do you support restricting new bottle stores from opening within 100 metres of addiction treatment/rehabilitation centres, and 50 metres of primary schools and secondary schools within the central city (inside the four avenues), and exempting the City Centre Zone?
- Yes
Additional feedback
We support the Council’s proposal, particularly given any freeze on new licences applies specifically to bottle stores—which we maintain pose the most significant risk for alcohol-related harms of any licence.
Restricting new bottle stores’ proximity to sensitive community facilities
Do you support restricting new bottle stores from opening within 50 metres of addiction treatment/rehabilitation centres, and primary schools and secondary schools in Banks Peninsula (including, but not limited to, Akaroa, Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Governors Bay, Little River and Duvauchelle)?
- Yes
Additional feedback
We support the Council’s proposal, particularly given any freeze on new licences applies specifically to bottle stores—which we maintain pose the most significant risk for alcohol-related harms of any licence.