Local alcohol policy

A local alcohol policy sets out the policies that will guide the decisions of the District Licensing Committee when it issues alcohol licences.

We adopted a provisional policy on 28 April 2021 which was appealed to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA).

The Council decided on 6 November 2024 to discontinue the current policy and withdraw from the appeals process. This means that the Council does not have a local alcohol policy in effect.

The Council has also decided that it will begin development of a new local alcohol policy under the amended Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. The amended Act removed the appeals process. Developing a new local alcohol policy means that Council will be able to make the final decision about its policy without having to make it subject to an appeal before it can be adopted. A new policy will also be based on the most recent evidence of alcohol-related harm.