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Police say the decision not to allow Super Liquor to establish another outlet in the student quarter sends a message to operators that action will be taken to reduce the harm caused by alcohol.

The University of Otago also backed the decision not to allow McCarthy Enterprises Ltd to set up another Super Liquor outlet in the former premises of McDuffs Brewery in Great King St, in North Dunedin.

The proposal by McCarthy Enterprises, one of four companies owned by Trish McCarthy and her husband which operate a network of liquor outlets throughout the city, was widely panned by city authorities.

The Dunedin District Licensing Committee agreed with the university, police, Public Health South and the Dunedin City Council's licensing inspector that the location was inappropriate given the proposed store's proximity to students and other outlets.

In its decision, the committee said the application failed at its first hurdle as the applicant could not prove opening another liquor outlet in the area would minimise excessive alcohol consumption or the harm it caused.

"The applicant is not responsible for when or how the alcohol sold from their premises is consumed," the decision said.

"However, the committee was presented with evidence that alcohol purchased by students is generally consumed within an hour of purchase and that they drink to get intoxicated.

"While the applicant suggested having a well-run off-licence in the area would reduce harm because there would be no need for residents to purchase alcohol online or to drive to get it themselves, this is inconsistent with the evidence provided.

The committee did not believe"the introduction of another source of alcohol in this area would be consistent with the object of the [Sale and Supply of Alcohol] Act".

When contacted last week, Mrs McCarthy said she could not talk because she was travelling.

She did not respond to subsequent attempts seeking comment.

The applicant's companies had been found in breach of the Act on seven occasions in the past, the most recent in September last year.

Dunedin alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Ian Paulin said he was pleased with the committee's decison.

"The evidence presented by police witnesses was so compelling that I believe the committee had no choice than to decline the application," he said.

"There is a high amount of alcohol harm in Dunedin that can be attributed to off-licence purchasing and consumption away from the safety of a licensed premises. 

"Whenever police can link this harm to an off-licensed premises the appropriate action will be taken."

The university, which submitted in opposition to the application at last month's hearing, endorsed the committee's decision to decline the licence.

"We are very pleased that the views of the university and other community stakeholders have been listened to and we believe that the decision made today is the right one," a university spokeswoman said.

In its decision, the committee said some of Mrs McCarthy's submissions were inconsistent with the evidence, including a claim the business would target workers driving home despite the premises having only two car parks.

"The North Dunedin area in which the applicant intends to open a new off-licence is unique," the decision said.

"We ... heard that students consumed 50%-60% more alcohol than their non-student peer age group and that the students in Dunedin consume more than those from other universities.

"With the high levels of alcohol consumption comes an associated high level of harm, including blackouts, assaults and sexual assaults.

"More evidence was presented that for every off-licensed premises opening within 1km of residential activity there is a 4% increased probability of binge drinking and a 2.3% increase in alcohol-related harm."

At present three other outlets were within a 130m radius of the proposed premises.

The committee's decision can be appealed to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority.

timothy.brown@odt.co.nz