Southland Council tightens alcohol rules to curb $9.1B yearly harm
Alcohol causes roughly 900 deaths, 1,250 cancer cases, and 30,000 hospital stays in New Zealand each year, with the financial toll reaching $9.1 billion annually. Now, Southland District Council is reviewing its Local Alcohol Policy to tackle these ongoing health equity issues.
Public health expert Michael Butchard presented findings to the council on Wednesday. As Te Whatu Ora's medical officer of health, he highlighted the need to cut alcohol use to reduce long-term health insurance harm. His submission backed stricter rules but did not shape the final policy, which will be decided next month.
The council's public consultation ran from November 3 to December 12, gathering 20 responses. One proposal suggests shortening the policy review cycle from six years to four, avoiding election years and speeding up changes.
Te Whatu Ora's submission also recommended limiting off-licence trading to 9am–9pm. It proposed adding health centres, rehab facilities, marae, and fale Pasifika to the list of sensitive sites. Another suggestion was a three-hour minimum wait for off-licence alcohol deliveries.
Hospitality New Zealand argued that well-managed licensed venues could help reduce harm. Meanwhile, Butchard stressed that alcohol contributes to over 200 medical conditions, reinforcing the push for tighter controls.
The council will finalise its Local Alcohol Policy next month. If adopted, the changes could restrict trading hours, expand sensitive locations, and introduce delivery delays. These steps aim to lower alcohol-related harm across the region.
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