Mr McNeil (70), of Alexandra, has been appointed chairman, in a commissioner's role, on the district's new licensing committee.
From December 18, the committee will be responsible for determining all liquor licences within the district, under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.
Deputy mayor Neil Gillespie, of Cromwell, was appointed deputy chairman.
Other committee members selected are justice of the peace Mike MacAvoy, of Bannockburn, solicitor Tanya Surrey, of Queenstown, and Nik Horn, of Queenstown, who is involved in industry training.
The committee will hear all licence applications opposed by one of the reporting agencies or a member of the public.
Mr McNeil, as chairman, will handle all unopposed licence applications.
Under the new legislation, the committee's responsibilities include licence applications, renewals, variations, suspensions and cancellations, new applications for manager's certificates and renewals.
Mr McNeil was deputy town clerk for the Alexandra Borough Council from 1979 to 1989, when local body reorganisation took place, and several councils merged to form the Central Otago District Council.
He was corporate services manager for the district council from 1989 to 1994 and
planning and regulatory services manager from 1994 to 2004, when he retired.
As well, he is a marriage celebrant and justice of the peace and does court work.
''Sitting on the bench in court got me interested in law.
"Plus, when I worked for the council, liquor licensing was part of my responsibilities and I'm interested in this new liquor licensing era, the differences in the law now and the different aims and objectives.''
Mr McNeil said the new role was likely to take up a couple of hours of his time a week.
Councils are also able to set new alcohol policy for their district, to guide the district committee on licensing.
The Local Alcohol Policy can set guidelines for trading hours of licensed premises, one-way door policies at bars and determine where new bars and off-licences can set up.
Council planning and environment manager Louise van der Voort said the council was consulting stakeholders, including seeking the opinions of youth through a Facebook page.
The draft Local Alcohol Policy was likely to be tabled at the council's December meeting and then it would be open for submissions.
