Alcohol Newsletter - Spring 2023

Kōanga Spring 2023

Alcohol licensing tips and reminders

Spring is the perfect time to start ramping up for the 'crazy busy' that is the last four months of every year. Spring has its own brand of busy thanks to longer daylight hours, the upswing of tourist numbers, and this year - the Rugby World Cup! To become a 'coiled spring' ready to meet all these demands, check out our tips on preparing yourself and your business for the new season.

Signage sorted?

Is your signage up to scratch? Every licensee is required to display a copy of their licence, trading hours, managers on duty, host responsibility and food availability. Signage is available to help you meet your legal obligations. Contact DLG@fndc.govt.n z or email us at ask.us@fndc.govt.nz.

Planning a Christmas or New Year event?

Make sure to lodge your event application nice and early so we can process and issue it in plenty of time.

* Small/medium events → apply by 20 November.

* Large events → apply by 20 October.

* Waitangi Day 2024 → apply by 1 December.

Remote sales

Any off-licence holder can sell and deliver alcohol remotely (e.g. via the internet, phone, or mail). Off-licence remote sellers must comply with all off-licence requirements, including not leading people to believe there is a 25% or more discount on the usual price.

Is host responsibility clear to your staff?

If an inspector visited right now and asked staff about your Host Responsibility Policy (HRP), would they be able to answer? Refresh your knowledge to keep your staff at the top of their game. Don’t forget, staff training records will also be checked and need to be kept up to date.

No obligation to serve

Did you know you are under no obligation to serve all customers? Check out Section 24, Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. A licence holder isn't obliged to deliver, sell or supply alcohol at any time or to any person, or let any person consume alcohol at any time on their premises.

Go the All Blacks!

It's Rugby World Cup time! Want to score an extension to your hours? All eligible on-licence and club licence holders can extend their trading hours to televise early morning games. If you plan to do this, you need to let us and the police know. Find more info on our website.

Manager on duty

At all times

At all times alcohol is sold

to the public from a licensed premises,

a manager must be on duty.

The manager’s name needs to be prominently displayed inside the premises always while on duty.

It is important to note, if there is a changeover of Duty Managers,

signage needs to be updated.

Failure to appoint a manager,

or not having a manager on duty always

is a breach of the

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.

A fine of $5000

to the licensee or manager

could apply if you don't

follow these rules.

See Section 258 and Section 259.

Licence conditions

Are you complying?

As the licensee and/or Duty Manager,

it is your job to ensure that

you comply with your licence

and its conditions at all times.

You should know and understand the conditions of your licence well

so when an inspector comes calling,

you can slay any questions asked.

Low Alcohol Options

0% alcohol is not low alcohol

Most on-licence premises have a condition to have low alcohol options for sale.

Low alcohol is defined as

alcohol that is more than 1.15% but

not more than 2.5% alcohol by volume.

Alcohol-free beers are not “low-alcohol”. Don’t forget to have low alcohol options

to meet the conditions of your licence.

Alcohol promotions

Know the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act

Irresponsible alcohol promotions or activities can result in

fines and licence suspensions.

They can also increase alcohol-related harm, damaging the reputation

and prospects of a business.

Under the Act it is an offence to:

Encourage excessive consumption of alcohol. This applies anywhere, not just

on premises that are licensed.

Promote or advertise free alcohol. This does not apply to promotions inside licensed premises if they cannot be seen or heard from outside the premises and providing excessive consumption is not encouraged.

Offer goods, services or prizes on condition that alcohol is purchased. This does not apply to offers made only on licensed premises relating to the buying of alcohol or loyalty programmes where rewards or discounts are not primarily applied to the purchase of alcohol.

Promote alcohol in a way that is aimed at or appeals to minors.

Promote or advertise discounts on alcohol of 25% or more where

it can be seen or heard from outside the licensed premises.

But it is OK to:

Promote or have a discount on licensed premises of 25% or more

if it can't be seen or heard outside the premises

Promote or have a discount that can be seen from outside the premises

if it is less than 25%.