Council considers licensing changes

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 513, 23 November 1993, Page 7

Council considers licensing changes

An annual report on the Ruapehu District Council Licensing Agency was presented to counci llors at their meeting in T aumarunui last week. This report to the Liquor Licensing Authority is made in respect to functions which are the responsibility of Council under the Sale of Liquor Act 1989. Following last year's report Council resolved to bring to the attention of government that existing cost recoveries from liquor licence fees are inadequate to cover the Council' s cost in administering the Act and, further, there is merit in introducing a graduated scale of charges for club licences. This issue was duly raised with the Minister of

Justice who replied saying that no review should take place prior to June 1994 when the second renewal period will have been completed by which time the position will be much clearer. The Minister also advised that there is no proposal to amend the Sale of Liquor Act in the current legislative programme. Councillors were asked to consider whether it would be appropriate to include two particular clauses inserted as a result of experience by Council's inspectorate and the Police in the annual report to the Liquor Licensing Authority. These were on the subject of 'On Licences'. The clauses read as follows: □ 'Whileitisrecognised that the Authority has re-

ported to Parliament previously, it is becoming more apparentthatun-level playing fields exist with Sunday trading not allowed by those operators holding this type of licence. If changes are not brought about, this legislation will eventually lose credibility as it would seem that most premises are in fact trading on Sundays using the 'intention to dine' as a way of operating.' □ 'It would also seem to be an appropriate time to canvass the drinking age restrictions. The exceptions provided for are confusing to the operators. Reducing the age to 1 8 with no exceptions would reduce the problems presently being experienced within the community.' Cr Bob Vine said that he could not support any proposal which recommended lowering the drinking age but recognised that there was a difficulty in policing

under-age drinking under the existing regulations. Amid laughter Cr Joe Murphy said that he personally had no problem with the present licensing laws. He suggested the problem was with sports clubs rather than chartered clubs. This was particularly so in the case of licensed restaurants where anyone of whatever age is allowed on the premises. Another aspect of the report - Club Licences - was also discussed. It said that "both the RDC Licensing Agency and the NZ Police have experienced problems with these licencees. Some operations have little or no regard to their obligations under the Sale of Liquor Act. With the committees of these clubs operating on a voluntary basis, the management of these premises is sometimes unprofessional." Cr Weston Kirton said

that he was aware of the anomaly between Sunday trading hours of clubs and hotels and other on-licensed premises but suggested, rather than allow the latter to trade over extended hours, sports clubs ought to be restricted in their hours of trading. Cr Bob Peck said that if everyone spent the day in church on Sundays the problems associated with Sunday drinking would never arise.