The decision has been made for business reasons, and police say they are happy with the reduced hours and hope it will bring about a lower level of intoxication in the centre city.
Countdown Central went to 24-hour operation in January 2002, but from June 2 will open from 6am to midnight, seven days a week.
A spokeswoman for parent company Progressive Enterprises said with the store going through an extensive refurbishment, believed to be costing about $2 million, the company had a good opportunity to re-evaluate opening hours.
Reducing the hours was a business decision, she said. She declined further comment.
Dunedin Liquor Licensing Sergeant Wayne Pitcaithly welcomed the decision, saying there were more positives than negatives in changing the opening hours.
At present, beer and wine can be bought at the supermarket at any hour.
Sgt Pitcaithly said any reduction in the ability of people to buy beer and wine in the central city had to be welcomed by police.
The supermarket had trouble with intoxicated people going into the shop late at night and stealing items.
Sgt Pitcaithly said Countdown staff were very good at observing the law and not serving intoxicated people or minors.
The supermarket's car park was not part of the centre city liquor-ban area, as it was private property.
But Countdown management had an agreement with police that people who drank in the car park would be moved on by police and issued with trespass notices, he said.
Liquor could still be bought at late hours in Night 'N Day stores in the central city but Sgt Pitcaithly said it was more expensive than in supermarkets, so people were not so keen to buy it.
National Distribution Union Southland-Otago organiser Ken Young said no job losses had occurred through the reduction of hours.
Countdown Central was the only supermarket in Dunedin to open 24 hours.
