Anyone can give feedback on alcohol regulation in Central through a consultation on ‘The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Bill’

The bill, introduced by MP Kiritapu Allan, is currently before a select committee.

It aims to improve communities’ ability to influence alcohol regulation in their area and ensure that the sale, supply, and consumption of alcohol is undertaken safely and responsibly; and the harm caused by excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol is minimised.

Alcohol Healthwatch (AH) is an organisation of professionals dedicated to reducing and preventing alcohol-related harm in New Zealand and is funded by the Ministry of Health.

AH has put together an explanatory webpage along with a template for making a submission.

People interested in submitting on the bill need to do so by February 12. 

The Community Participation bill is different to Chlӧe Swarbrick's Harm Amendment bill.

Both seek to remove the appeals process from local alcohol policies, however, the Community Participation bill does not propose removing alcohol sponsorship of broadcast sport (as the Harm Minimisation bill does).

ActionPoint, a community resource based website of Alcohol Healthwatch, states in 2020/21 around one in every eight New Zealand adults report weekly consumption of six or more drinks in one occasion. 

Read earlier stories on reducing harm: Locals support bills reducing alcohol and nicotine harm and Give feedback on measures for youth vaping.