The three agencies fighting plans by McCarthy Enterprises owners Ken and Patricia McCarthy to open a new Super Liquor outlet in Great King St at the site of the former McDuff's Brewery made final submissions at the resumption of a district licensing committee hearing yesterday.
SDHB health promotion adviser Toni Paterson said the proposed bottle shop was ''in the heart of a community proven to experience significant amounts of alcohol-related harm and this application must be declined''.
Dunedin City Council licensing inspector Martine Cashell-Smith said granting the licence would be in direct opposition to the object of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.
Dunedin alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Ian Paulin said the object of the Act was to minimise harm and the proposed premises would do the opposite and the application should be declined.
Mrs McCarthy's lawyer, Paul Buckner, in the closing submission for his client, said the applicant was not responsible for the existing drinking culture.
''Simply closing off-licensed establishments will not make the problem go away.''
The committee reserved its decision.
