This page provides general information & resources about LAPs. It summarises what they are, the matters they can cover, how to develop a LAP and who can appeal.
Click to go to the section listed below: What's Happening? The SSAA 2012 - Local Alcohol Policies What a LAP can cover The effect of a LAP Developing a LAP Appealing elements of a LAP When LAPs can come into force Changing or reviewing a LAP Resources
ActionPoint For more information on Local Alcohol Policies.
What's Happening?
The status of Local Alcohol Policies throughout New Zealand’s 67 Territorial Authorities, as at March 2022 can be found here:
CURRENT STATUS OF LAPs IN EACH NZ COUNCIL
Of the 67 Councils in New Zealand, 41 (61%) have Local Alcohol Policies which have been adopted. These policies only cover 35% of the NZ population, as there is no Local Alcohol Policy in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.
If you have any questions or require further information about this document or any other LAP specific information, phone Jennifer (Mob: 021 2441 814) or email jennifer@ahw.org.nz
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 allows territorial authorities to develop local alcohol policies (LAPs).
A local alcohol policy (LAP) is a set of decisions made by a territorial authority in consultation with its community about the sale and supply of alcohol in its geographical area.
Once a LAP is in place, licensing bodies will have to consider the policy when they make decisions on licence applications.
LAPs are optional. Territorial authorities are not required to have a LAP.
Each territorial authority can only have one LAP. However, a LAP can have different conditions for different areas within the territorial authority’s district.
Two or more territorial authorities may develop a joint LAP.
Through local alcohol policies, communities will be able to:
- Limit the location of licences in particular areas or near certain types of facilities, such as in specific neighbourhoods or near schools or churches
- Limit the density of licences by specifying whether new licences or types of licences should be issued in a particular area
- Impose conditions on groups of licences, such as a “one-way door” condition that would allow patrons to leave premises but not enter or re-enter after a certain time
- Restrict or extend the maximum opening hours set in the new Act:
- 8am - 4am for on-licences (such as pubs and restaurants)
- 7am - 11pm for off-licences (such as bottle stores and supermarkets).
LAPs must be reasonable and consistent with the object of the Act. The first two bullet points above will not apply to special licences and LAPs cannot include policies on matters unrelated to licensing.
Although some communities currently have alcohol polices or plans, these are not legally enforceable. The new Act gives legal standing to LAPs that are developed according to its requirements.
Licensing bodies will have to consider LAPs when they make decisions about licence applications.
The Act aims, through LAPs, to give local communities more input into licensing decisions and also to limit the availability and accessibility of alcohol in New Zealand. This means local outlets of national businesses (eg, supermarket chains) may have different opening hours or conditions depending on where they are located. For reasons of fairness, policies relating to the location and density will not apply to existing licences. However, the LAP will apply to new licences that are issued for existing premises (eg, if a bar has a new owner who is applying for a licence).
If a territorial authority decides to have a LAP it must:
- Develop a draft LAP in consultation with Police, licensing inspectors and Medical Officers of Health.
- Consult the community on the draft policy using the special consultative procedure in the Local Government Act 2002.
- Prepare a provisional policy based on consultation feedback.
- Give public notice of the provisional policy. The LAP can be appealed at this stage.
- Adopt the provisional policy. A provisional policy becomes final 30 days after it is publicly notified (or after any appeals are resolved).
- Give public notice of the LAP’s adoption and the date it will come into effect (as determined by council resolution).
When producing a draft policy, a territorial authority must consider a range of factors set out in the legislation.
Only a person who made a submission on the draft local alcohol policy can appeal any element of the provisional policy. Police and Medical Officers of Health have statutory rights of appeal.
The appeal must be filed with the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority within 30 days of the public notification of the provisional policy.
The only ground for appealing an element of a provisional LAP is that it is unreasonable in light of the object of the Act. The Act’s object is that:
- The sale, supply and consumption of alcohol should be undertaken safely and responsibly, and
- The harm caused by the excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol should be minimised.
The provisional LAP cannot come into effect until all appeals are resolved.
The earliest a LAP can come into force is the 17 January 2014. Trading hours conditions in LAPs come into force 3 months after the rest of the policy. This is to give licensees time to make staffing changes necessary to comply with the policy.
Local Government New Zealand has recently advised Councils that they recommend holding off on notifying their provisional policies until the New Year. This is because there may be issues in terms of the 30 day appeal time period being over Christmas. With many businesses and services being closed over the Christmas period it limits the ability to organise what is required for an appeal.
If a territorial authority decides to change or replace its LAP, it must go through the same process it took to develop it.
If a territorial authority decides to revoke a LAP so that it no longer applies to the district, it must follow the special consultative procedure in the Local Government Act 2002.
A territorial authority must review its LAP every six years using the special consultative procedure in the Local Government Act 2002.
If you require more information on LAPs or advice on ensuring a LAP is effective please contact us