What is a local alcohol policy (LAP)?
Under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, councils can develop local alcohol policies (LAPs) to influence the location, number and trading hours of businesses licensed to sell alcohol.
Purpose of LAPs
LAPs generally encourage the responsible sale, supply and consumption of alcohol and focus on reducing alcohol related harm.
A LAP can influence:
- where new alcohol licences can be established
- how many new alcohol licences are allowed
- when bars, restaurants and nightclubs can be open
- when bottle shops and supermarkets can sell alcohol
- when clubs (e.g. sports clubs, RSAs) can sell alcohol.
LAPs can also set out conditions that can be applied to alcohol licences. This is to improve industry standards and promote safe and responsible sale and supply of alcohol.
LAPs will need to be considered by the relevant District Licensing Committee (DLC) and the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA) when they make decisions on new licence applications.
The LAPs will also have some effect on existing licences.
Provisional LAP
We adopted the Provisional LAP in May 2015.
The Provisional LAP includes regional policies, as well as some special rules for the city centre and the priority overlay.
The priority overlay covers suburbs experiencing higher levels of alcohol-related harm. For the boundaries of these areas, see Local alcohol policy areas.
Key points of the Provisional LAP
Key points in the provisional LAP are:
- opening hours
- restrictions on the location of new licences
- a local impacts report for the renewal of higher-risk licences in the priority overlay to help with setting conditions
- a range of discretionary conditions that can be applied to licences.