The fate of where and how licensed premises operate in Dunedin could lie in the wrinkled hands of bitter geriatrics due to current alcohol legislation allowing for local body policies to be influenced by communities. A draft local alcohol policy for the city is currently being worked on by Dunedin City Council staff and a period of public consultation is intended for September.
Older residents may use their we-know-best-because-we’re-so-old attitude to influence when and where licensed premises can operate in the city, despite many having once stumbled down Castle Street with a big bot in hand and set fire to the odd couch themselves. The subject of their input ranges from the opening hours of premises and their locations to restricting late-night re-entry to bars. Critic predicts that if Nana has her say Monkey Bar will have a one-way policy and everyone will be ushered off to bed at 7.30pm, right in time for Coro.
Critic spoke with DCC Liquor Licensing co-ordinator Kevin Mechen, who is currently working on the draft policy. Mechen remarked that while the Alcohol Law reform, by default, restricts closing times to 4am nationally, Dunedin was leaning towards a 3am closing time. When asked if student drinking culture might influence the older population’s submissions, Mechen replied that crime statistics seemed to be the most influential factor supporting a policy change.
Mechen emphasised that the Council “want to do [the submission process] while students are here” and conveyed the message that “if students don’t speak up, they won’t be heard.” While students may be inclined to make one submission with multiple signatories, it appeared that individual submissions from people who “have taken more time and put more feeling” into their submission would carry more weight. While Critic imagines that the student population would be frothing if Joan Butcher were to make a submission, the likelihood of this carrying more weight than others has us in low spirits.
After submissions are heard in September, a provisional policy will likely be put in place by the end of November. The policy will not be advertised prior to 18 December, and it will take effect from 17 January at the earliest. Changes to trading hours would not take effect until three months from that date.
New Alcohol Policy?
