The Dunedin City Council hearings subcommittee is set to consider public submissions to a draft replacement of the council’s local alcohol policy (LAP) on Wednesday.
The draft LAP contains several proposed changes, including amending the hours off-licence premises can sell alcohol to between 7am and 9pm, as opposed to 7am to 10pm, prohibiting the promotion of alcohol on the exterior of premises and a ban on new off-licence premises in an area north of the Octagon.
A report to the subcommittee said the council received 85 submissions and a total of 56.5% of respondents agreed with the general direction of the draft replacement policy.
A total of 45.9% of respondents agreed that there should be no more new off-licence premises in the area between Moray Pl and the Gardens Shopping Centre, while 35.3% disagreed.
Those in favour of the ban on new off-licence premises believed there were "more than enough" and too many in one area could lead to overbuying and overconsuming.
It would also reduce the risk towards young people and students in North Dunedin, and reduce the "extreme levels" of alcohol-related harm in the city.
"The density of off-licences in the north end needs to be balanced with the safety of our vulnerable student population."
Those against the proposal said making the process more restrictive was fine, but a full ban was excessive and could be harmful.
It was a strong restriction and it seemed to be trying to solve a problem that did not appear to exist, as there were no known new bottle shops in the area nor any known plans for new outlets.
"Dunedin has lost its vibrant nightlife and it is important to support and encourage the growth of this again rather than stopping it."
In their submission, police said the Dunedin CBD was "the primary area for alcohol-related calls for service".
They recommended the trading hours for hotels, pubs and nightclubs in the CBD be from 9am to 1.30am, with a one-way door system applying from 1am.
They also called for a prohibition on the sale of alcohol in glass containers, of a volume 500ml or less, from premises within a 1200m radius of the University of Otago — defined as 362 Leith St — as well as a condition on off-licences for no single-serve sales of alcohol at or less than $6 per unit.
