An application for the sale of wine and beer by the Cardrona Valley General Store was granted this week (Tuesday August 17) in a unanimous decision by the Queenstown Lakes District Licensing Committee (DLC).

DLC chair Judge Bill Unwin said, despite concerns raised by the district’s Medical Officer of Health at a hearing in Wanaka (August 4), the committee was satisfied that the application for a new off-licence should be granted with one condition; that the only alcohol that may be sold will be wines and craft beer made in Otago.

The concerns centred on whether or not the general store was a “convenience store”, as off-licences are not permitted for convenience stores, but store owner Margaret Bowes successfully defended her businesses, describing it as a country cafe and quintessential rural store.

Margaret said it was “great news” when she learned her application had been granted. 

“I am pleased that the DLC recognised the difference between a convenience store and a rural general store which is focused on meeting the needs of the local community,” she said.

In the decision, Judge Unwin said off-licences are normally granted to businesses, such as a tavern, hotel, retail bottle store, supermarket, and so on, but there were “statutory exceptions to this general rule, and this application is one of those exceptions”.  

The committee agreed the business, located beside the Cardrona Valley Road, “operates as a country store” and there was no issue with the suitability of the applicant to sell the limited stocks of local wine and craft beer proposed.

PHOTO: Supplied