Dunedin's local alcohol policy has hit another wall after it was withdrawn from consideration at a Dunedin City Council meeting because of legal fears.
Councillors were expected to vote on whether to adopt a local alcohol policy at a full council meeting yesterday, but it was withdrawn as an item for consideration at the last moment.
The policy has been four years in the making and has been softened after successful appeals by a group which included supermarket chains and liquor stores.
New rules in the policy included a 2.30am one-way door policy and 3am closing for most inner-city bars and a ban on any new licensed premises within 100m of schools and playgrounds.
Council community services general manager Simon Pickford said the potentially troubling wording was a minor part of the policy which addressed on-licences, and it had been in the document since it was first proposed.
After receiving legal advice it was decided it would be better to withdraw the policy now and reintroduce it at the next full council meeting in April, Mr Pickford said.
''Given its importance, the policy needs to be as perfect as it can be,'' he said.
