One Year On: The Sale & Supply of Alcohol Act March 2015 Wellington

What’s working well? Challenges? Priorities moving forward? Inspector’s view Tracy Waddington Tasman District Council

Capacity of the Act to deliver? Purpose – to put in place a reasonable system of control over the sale & supply of alcohol that achieves the object Object - that the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol is undertaken safely and responsibly and that harm is minimised

What has been shown to have an effect? Increase the price Reduce advertising Reduce availability Of these availability is the only element where control is attempted by the Act Hours Location and Density – s105 & s106 LAP

The positives Local and more timely hearing of applications with opposition or objections Agency collaboration – continuing to build on good existing relationships Fee framework – sharpened focus on compliance Reduced complacency, renewed focus on harm prevention New conversations about harm – MOH raising wider issue of community impacts

The positives continued….. Manager’s Bridging test – refresher training for long term managers Immediate impact on Special Licences for large events Increased involvement of rest of team Complete (forced!) review of all processes - systems, forms, website, information sheets, database, invoicing system…

Key challenges in first year Complete (forced!) review of all processes – systems, forms, website, information sheets, database, invoicing system…  Very short timeframe from release of regs to effect  Very bad time of year - Christmas, public holidays, statutory non-working days, peak trading period for tourism towns The Act itself – language, organisation of sections, ambiguity…

The challenges continued… Establishment of DLC & all related processes Lack of case law particularly in relation to the new sections Massive increase in resources needed – this is our “new normal”

Dynamics of region’s DLCs Top of the South - previously little if any DLA activity Early days for DLCs as far as public hearings go  Nelson - 1  Tasman - 1  Marlborough - 1

Key learnings from decisions so far… Single alcohol areas DLC processes

What is needed to improve outcomes? Amendment to the Act - at least those sections identified by ARLA in annual report Central govt to make the changes that will have an effect:  Pricing  Advertising  More work around supply to minors