The Central Otago District Licensing Committee has corrected an error in its Alexandra Four Square Supermarket off-licence decision but says the mistake does not affect the hearing outcome.
Public Health South medical officer of health Dr Derek Bell asked for the correction.
Council licensing inspector Ray Applegarth said the error resulted from a misunderstanding when the committee's decision was drafted. Dr Bell's written submission, received the day after the hearing in May, contradicted what committee members believed he had said at the hearing.
The decision referred to the committee's view of Dr Bell's stance, even though it was contradicted by his written statement received later, Mr Applegarth said.
The committee thought Dr Bell was seeking complete separation of the alcohol area from the groceries within the store, but he said that was not the case. However, he believed it was ''reasonably practicable'' for the applicant to further reduce the exposure of shoppers to the displays and promotions of alcohol.
Public Health South had opposed the Four Square store being granted an off-licence to sell alcohol, but the committee decided to grant the licence. The health authority has challenged the decision, appealing to the Alcohol and Regulatory Licensing Authority.
Mr Applegarth said the committee sought advice from the authority about Dr Bell's request for a correction to the committee's written decision.
The decision had now been formally amended by committee chairman Bob McNeil to clear up the misunderstanding over Dr Bell's stance but the correction would not ''materially affect the decision or the matters subject to appeal'', he said.
In its notice of appeal to the authority, Southern District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Keith Reid said the committee did not properly consider the section of the alcohol laws relating to limiting exposure of shoppers to alcohol displays. The committee had not heard any evidence about the cost or work needed to relocate the alcohol to a different area of the store so was not ''fully informed'', he said .
