But the owners say their venue is focused on music and the community rather than liquor sales.
Student-led alcohol harm reduction group Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) Ōtepoti has opposed the liquor licensing application by Loboski Venues Ltd for its latest venue in the former Captain Cook Tavern, on the corner of Great King and Albany Sts.
Co-owners Mili Oxley Lobo and Baden Oxley, who also own Errick’s and Ombrellos, announced their plans to reopen the building’s upstairs entertainment premises as DropKicks last month.
The venue’s opening night had been scheduled for September 14, but in a post on social media last week DropKicks announced this had been delayed "due to circumstances beyond our control".
In a letter addressed to Dunedin’s district licensing committee, SSDP Ōtepoti president Max Phillips said they had become aware of "extensive social media campaigns" by the applicant, and DropKicks had been announced "well before" the objection period for its on-license application had closed, on August 21.
The announcement was "extremely concerning" and the applicant had shown an "utter disregard" for the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, he said.
"SSDP believes that the applicant has been alarmingly presumptuous in announcing their new venue before their on-licence has been granted . . ."
"In fact, the applicant’s actions have created tremendous discord among Dunedin’s vulnerable student and youth community."
Mr Phillips said the group had sent letters of support for five other Dunedin on-licensees during the year and had amplified the voices of live music advocates "at every possible opportunity".
While the group was committed to bringing back safer and well-managed student bars, it could not support any potential new student bar when there was a "clearly identifiable risk that the prospective licensee will make things worse for students," he said.
On social media, promotion for the venue began in the middle of August.
"The word is out," a post dated August 13 said.
The venue would open for an event on September 14, before regular opening hours next year.
"Your great-granddad, your gran, and even your mum have all had a pint here.
"Now, it’s your turn!"
Mrs Oxley Lobo said their advertising related to the new venue’s music — not its liquor licensing.
The new business was about bringing more live music to the city and "creating safe spaces for all to enjoy".
"Our events are about the music, about the community and about making a change in Dunedin.
"Our events are not about the venue, the location or the alcohol, and for that, DropKicks and what it stands for is not limited to the outcome of our licence.
"It is an ethos and movement, that will carry on regardless of being able to sell alcohol or not."
District licensing committee chairman Colin Weatherall said a hearing for an on-licence application for DropKicks would be held about early October.
