Marlborough District Council says its new Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) 2025 heralds some changes for the sale of alcohol, supply and consumption in the region.
In July 2024, the Council confirmed its wish to have an LAP that reinforced the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act in ensuring the safe and responsible sale, supply and consumption of alcohol and minimising alcohol-related harm.
The main changes in the new LAP are as follows:
- On Licence maximum trading hours will now be until 2am (previously it was 3am);
- Off Licence maximum trading hours will now be until 10pm (previously it was 11pm);
- The requirement to apply a one-way-door policy for On Licence premises from 1am;
- There will be no new bottle store Off Licences granted in Marlborough.
The new LAP will take effect from 1 November except for the changes in trading hours and the one-way door policy, which take effect from 1 February 2026.
Council’s Chief Licensing Inspector, Karen Winter said the impetus had come from the Marlborough community for the new policy.
“A lot of work was done in the pre-consultation process including meeting with Police, Health NZ, stakeholders and other agencies. Around 90 people attended a breakfast meeting with these agencies in the room to discuss the proposal. It is not about curtailing business but finding the right balance,” Ms Winter said.
Council received 14 submissions to the draft LAP, with 10 speaking at the hearing.
“The hearings sub-committee considered all the submissions. This included the retention of the one-way-door policy from 1am. Police find that this policy alleviates issues with patrons migrating between venues and has been beneficial in reducing potential issues in Blenheim’s CBD in particular,” said Ms Winter.
“A reduction of the On Licence trading hours was requested by both Police and Public Health during the development of this policy to assist in the minimisation of alcohol related harm. It is a balance between providing places for patrons to purchase and consume alcohol alongside reducing exposure times to alcohol.
“It was also decided that recent community objection to proposed bottle stores indicated that the Marlborough community did not want more of these types of premises,” she said.
The LAP provides an opportunity for people to have their say on alcohol sales and consumption in their communities. It also provides certainly for both regulatory agencies and licensees on what will and won’t be allowed and identifies the location of licensed premises and outlines whether further licenses should be issued in the district.
It also outlines maximum trading hours and discretionary conditions that could be appropriate.
