Country pubs are under increasing pressure because of new licensing fees and rising running costs, so one pub owner has taken it upon himself to do something about it.
Strath Taieri Hotel owner Allan Roberts is planning a petition calling for the scrapping of an annual licence fee or, at least, for a change to the risk rating of licensed premises.
In 2013, legislation was brought in that placed a cost/risk rating around licensed establishments based on the type of premises and liquor licence held, trading times and alcohol breaches by the pub or its patrons. This was on top of a liquor licence, rates and compliance fees.
The hotel at Middlemarch had been given a medium risk rating, which was common for most country hotels.
The ratings were graded on a points system. It meant Mr Roberts was charged $632 annually on top of his three-yearly $1500 liquor licence, $4000 a year rates and $1200 kitchen and building compliance costs.
This was before he paid staff. He also had to pay separate fees for the off-licence.
Mr Roberts said he would not be paying.‘‘I am not having it. I believe the council, while they have to pay a small levy [to the Government], the rest is going straight into their pocket.
''I am very determined that this is just another tax on business. I don't even know if we'll survive.''
Country pubs had struggled with stricter alcohol consumption and drink-driving laws in recent years and Mr Roberts was concerned that if fees kept going up, his hotel, and others like it, would have to close.
‘‘I'm not sitting back and taking this,'' Mr Roberts said.
Clarks Junction Hotel owner Adrian Bardrick agreed fees were high but was unsure whether anything could be done.
‘‘You can make a noise about it but you're still going to have to pay,'' Mr Bardrick said. ‘‘Our rates are four times what we were paying four years ago [but] we're managing.''
Some places had closed their off-licence because of the fees, Mr Bardrick said, and that was tough for small communities, as there was no other option.
‘‘I believe [rising fees] would make it hard for some places.''
Beaumont Hotel owner Alison Mills said fees were high but she and her husband were lucky he had a second source of income.
They were prepared for the fees and managed it as best they could.‘‘You have to pay it. We just have to suck it up, really.''
Dunedin City Council district licensing inspector Tony Moles said the annual licence fee was government legislation and fees had not risen since 2000.
He said the fee was introduced to take the burden off taxpayers and he did not believe Mr Roberts would be able to have his risk rating lowered.
If Mr Roberts did not pay the fee, he would have his liquor licence suspended, Mr Moles said.
