Thames-Coromandel District Council's policy on where and when alcohol can be sold around the Coromandel has been adopted and will come into force in two stages in January and April 2016.

This month council's Local Alcohol Policy has been adopted by final decision of the Alcohol and Regulatory Licensing Authority.

Council resolved the Local Alcohol Policy, excluding maximum trading hours, will come into force on January 1, 2016, while maximum trading hours will come into force on April 1, 2016.

'We've developed a Local Alcohol Policy because New Zealand had a new alcohol law, the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, that changed the way alcohol licensing decisions are made,” explains council.

'Our communities can now have a greater say on where and when alcohol is available in the Coromandel.”

The overall purpose of the law is to better ensure that alcohol is sold, supplied, and consumed safely and responsibly to minimise alcohol-related harm.

To develop the policy, council worked through the legislative process and sought input from the community, key organisations and industry at various stages of the process.

This included talking with police, inspectors, and medical officers, undertaking a survey to hear your views on alcohol availability in our communities, and holding forums with those involved in the local alcohol industry about the new law and how it could impact business.

'This feedback helped to ensure we developed a policy that would meet the needs of our communities, encourages responsibility in the local alcohol industry, and reflects the Coromandel's characteristics as a popular holiday and event destination.

'A number of parties appealed a limited number of provisions in the provisional policy, including the maximum trading hours and several discretionary conditions for off-licences.”

As a result of an Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority hearing in February, council's position on the maximum trading hours of 7am to 9pm for off-licences was upheld.

TCDC 'LEADERSHIP' PRAISED

National Board Health Board chair Professor Randall Morton says the Thames-Coromandel District Council's leadership sets a positive example for other councils to follow.

Alcohol-related harm places a considerable weight on the country's heath system and on the lives of many New Zealanders, says Professor Morton.

'Despite facing strong industry opposition, the Thames Coromandel District Council has persevered and placed the health of its communities first by implementing measures that have been proven to reduce the effects of alcohol-related harm.”

Studies by the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine show one in eight in people present in emergency departments on a Friday or Saturday night will for alcohol-related reasons.

Professor Morton says strong evidence shows earlier closing times correlate with a dramatic reduction in the number of alcohol-related presentations in emergency department, freeing up doctors for other patients who need help.

'One-way door policies have also been shown to have a positive impact on the quality of a city's nightlife by dramatically reducing the number of night-time assaults.

'By staggering the times at which people go home, there isn't as much of an influx of intoxicated people on the streets come closing time.”

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is also strongly advocating for three key areas where alcohol-related harm can effectively be reduced - hours, outlets and taxes.

This encompasses a restriction on trading hours, reducing outlet density, and applying a stepped volumetric tax on alcohol.

'Introduction of earlier closing times places the health of the community first and RACS urges those councils who have not yet done so to follow the lead of Thames Coromandel and adopt similar measures to reduce alcohol-related harm.”

For more information or to read the full Alcohol and Regulatory Licensing Authority's decision visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's Local Alcohol Policy webpage.