New Zealand Winegrowers are welcoming the bill. Image courtesy New Zealand Winegrowers Inc, Batch Waiheke
New Zealand Winegrowers has deemed yesterday’s announcement of the introduction of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill a “sensible approach to licensing requirements”.
The changes proposed in the bill would allow winery cellar doors and restaurants with an on-licence to stock zero alcohol wines to meet their licensing obligations. At present, the licence holder is obliged to stock ‘low-alcohol’ products containing no more than 2.5% alcohol. With the recent substantial growth in zero alcohol wines, beers and spirits, these proposals are “commonsense measures” that would allow zero alcohol products to also meet the licencing requirements in place of just ‘low-alcohol’ products.
Philip Gregan, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers, said that the proposals will help simplify licensing system agreements for many businesses.
“We often hear from our members about the challenges involved in alcohol licensing. While it is important that there are guardrails in place around the sale and supply of alcohol, many of the current requirements have become overly bureaucratic and technical.
“The vast majority of New Zealanders consume alcohol responsibly, and the regulatory framework should reflect that,” he said.
Changes included in the bill would also amend licensing procedures, including licence applications and renewals.
“The proposals would also reinstate procedural requirements in the law that ensure that objections to licence applications or renewals have an appropriate level of connection to the application.
“The current law allows someone from anywhere in the country to object to a licence application or renewal. This is a sensible change that ensures that a business cannot have its licence impacted by unconnected objectors,” Gregan emphasised.
New Zealand Winegrowers reiterated that regardless of the status of the proposals, its members who operate winery cellar doors and restaurants “will continue to observe host responsibility practices”. It also said that it looks forward to engaging in the Select Committee process.
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