Alcohol-related harm the dark side of Wellington no one wants to talk about - councillor

Thursday, 30 August 2018

Wellington City Council is examining its powers to make alcohol laws in an effort to minimise alcohol-related harm.

Bottle shop opening hours, alcohol advertising and the number of bars operating in Wellington will come under scrutiny as the city council begins a crackdown on booze to combat alcohol-related harm.

Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons, who leads the city safety portfolio, has initiated a review of the council's 2013 Alcohol Management Strategy.

Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons, who leads the city safety portfolio, initiated a review of its 2013 Alcohol Management Strategy.

She was hopeful the outcome of the review, due in early 2019, would act as evidence to support development of a Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) if one was needed, she said.

The council's previous attempt at putting an LAP in place was rejected by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority in 2015. The plan would have given the capital the most liberal drinking hours in the country, with selected bars allowed to trade until 5am rather than 4am, but it attracted stern opposition from police and health authorities.

* Wellington bars snub offer of licence fee waiver if they make outdoor dining smokefree

* Police, regional health fight to curtail closing hours for Wellington liquor stores in 'risk areas'**

Opening hours look likely to come under the microscope again, but this time with a view to how they could be altered to curb alcohol-related harm. This is defined as any crime, damage, disease, death, disorderly behaviour, illness or injury caused directly or indirectly by excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol.

The location of alcohol-related assaults in Wellington.

'Alcohol-related harm is the dark side of Wellington no-one wants to talk about,' Fitzsimons said.

A range of options for the review included: the number of establishments and their opening hours, training for bar staff and limiting advertising that promoted alcohol.

The polo at Kelburn Park in Wellington had a prominent alcohol sponsor. The review could see this type of advertising restricted.

It could also look at reducing off-licensed operating hours and late-night transport options.

'A lot of events glamorise the benefits of alcohol and the harm. The time is right for us to be honest about the impact of harm in Wellington.'

Homegrown also has a lead alcohol sponsor.

She wanted harm to be a major factor in all decisions around support for alcohol-related events in the city.

This included Beervana, Beers at the Basin, polo and Homegrown, which all had 'explicit' alcohol sponsorship.

Medical officer of health for Regional Public Health, Dr Stephen Palmer supported the council’s 'wise' review.

'Evidence shows alcohol sponsorship leads to alcohol-related harm, so we have to be proactive.'

The council had not complied with its current strategy, which had suggested initiatives to limit pre-loading, side-loading, alcohol advertising and looking at opening hours, she said.

Hospitality New Zealand Wellington branch president Matt McLaughlin said the industry also wanted safer bars and a safer city, so was on the same page as the council - to a certain extent. He welcomed an LAP.

A recent High Court decision, in relation to Liquor King on Kent Terrace, found alcohol-related harm and the existence of it was enough - you don't need to show a cause or link between the premises, she said.

The District Licensing Committee was going to use this case law in future decisions.

The NZ Alcohol Beverages Council executive director Nick Leggett said there was a risk Wowsers would take over the debate and control the discussions, leading to prohibition by stealth.

Medical officer of health for Regional Public Health, Dr Stephen Palmer supported the council's 'wise' review, particularly around advertisements and sponsorship.

The review would also look at the night-time economy and its reliance on alcohol and how that can be shifted, which sounded good, he said.

Hospitality New Zealand Wellington branch president Matt McLaughlin said the industry also strived for safer bars and a safer city and did a good job, he said.

'We are on the same page [as the council] to a certain extent.'

Police told him bars were not the issue when it came to harm.

He believed an LAP would be a good idea because bars would be interested in adding rules and had some good ideas.

This could include a law, which exists in Sydney, where patrons who are asked to leave a bar have to stay a certain distance away from the premises when they leave.

The NZ Alcohol Beverages Council executive director Nick Leggett said it was open to hearing the evidence, but there was a risk wowsers would take over the debate and control the discussions, he said.

'Then we will get prohibition by stealth.'

He questioned the impact on successful events such as Beervana, which attracted a lot of visitors to the city.

He suggested targeted harm reduction through education, police and social agencies.