Sergeant Steve Jones said while opposition to Countdown Dunedin Central’s alcohol licence renewal on the heels of two similar objections was not part of a blanket policy, it was an area on which he was focused.
The alcohol harm prevention officer’s concerns about the Cumberland St store’s sale of cheap, single-serve alcohol will be heard by the District Licensing Committee (DLC) tomorrow.
In his report contained in the hearing agenda, Sgt Jones said the low-cost "high-octane alcohol" exposed vulnerable people in the area to higher levels of harm.
"This point is particularly relevant for the homeless community that frequent George St and Dunedin city."
He raised similar objections in a report for the renewal application of Countdown Mailer St — which will be heard today — and contested Pak’nSave Dunedin’s application in May on the same basis, pointing to the higher rates of family harm in the surrounding area.
"I’m definitely focused on the appropriateness of single sales, particularly the high-strength beer single sales."
However, it was not a blanket approach and every licence application that came through to police was assessed as to factors such as location, clientele and deprivation of the area.
"It’s an area which is frequented by our students, which is a highly regarded vulnerable community in New Zealand when it comes to alcohol harm."
His report requested that there be no external alcohol advertising on the premises, and that there be no single sales of beer or cider of 500ml or less, with the exception of craft beer.
The DLC had been open to these conditions in the past, and had issued them for independent retailers.
"They’re yet to put those conditions in place for any supermarket in Dunedin. However, one thing we are seeing throughout the country is a number of DLCs who are more inclined to look at those conditions on on licences.
"That’s definitely something which the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority are concentrating on and are concerned with."
Students for Sensible Drug Policy Dunedin (SSDP), a group which had also contested recent applications, opposed Countdown Dunedin Central’s renewal.
The hearing agenda listed several reasons for this, which also included external advertising and the sale of single-serve alcohol "often at less than $6 per unit".
SSDP opposed the exclusion of craft beer sought by police.
It also believed sales on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights were too late and did not minimise the immediate or future risk of alcohol-related harm.
Neither the medical officer of health nor licensing inspector opposed the application, the agenda said.
The licensing inspector’s report commented that the premises complied with all aspects of the relevant legislation and there were "no issues as to the suitability of the applicant".
