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Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has announced proposed changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 and says the focus is on restoring fairness and practicality to the system without compromising public safety.
“Most New Zealanders who choose to drink alcohol do so responsibly.
“Our reforms recognise that responsible drinkers should not be penalised because of the behaviour of a few who do not drink safely.
“The Government is making targeted reforms to alcohol legislation to remove unnecessary red tape while continuing to uphold protections that minimise alcohol-related harm.”
The package aims to improve how the law operates in practice, removing compliance burdens that don’t meaningfully reduce harm, while strengthening areas where regulation can have a real impact.
Key changes include:
Fairer, clearer licensing processes, including ensuring that objections to licence applications come from the local community, and allowing applicants the right to respond to objections;
Modernised rules for national events, enabling Ministers to declare major televised events without the need for legislative amendments each time; Stronger safeguards, such as improved age verification under the Government’s Digital Identification Trust Framework, and clear responsibilities for alcohol delivery services to prevent sales to intoxicated or underage people.
“These are practical changes that maintain the core objective of the Act, minimising alcohol-related harm, while recognising that regulation must also be proportionate and workable,” McKee says.
The reforms also reflect growing consumer demand for non-intoxicating alternatives.
Licensed premises will be required to offer a wider range of zero- and/or low-alcohol beverages, and outdated definitions in the Act will be updated to reflect modern products and preferences.
“People deserve to have choices, including the choice to enjoy a drink responsibly, or to opt for non-alcoholic alternatives that suit their lifestyle.
“The current rules around non-alcoholic options are overly restrictive and don’t reflect how people actually drink today.”
McKee stresses territorial authorities will retain all current powers to regulate alcohol within their communities through Local Alcohol Policies and District Licensing Committees.
“I trust local councils to make the right decisions for their communities.
“If people have concerns about alcohol in their area, they should raise them directly with their council, and many already do.
“These changes strike a careful balance: they make life fairer for responsible drinkers and honest businesses, while continuing to target the areas where alcohol misuse can cause real harm.”
