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Hospitality New Zealand is welcoming proposed changes to the country’s alcohol laws, saying they will help rebalance the licensing process for hospitality businesses.
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill, which proposes a range of reforms to alcohol licensing and regulation.
Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Kristy Phillips says the changes are largely common-sense amendments responding to long-standing concerns from operators.
“Members regularly raise with us their concerns around the licensing process which have been held up with vexatious objections from outside the applicant’s territorial authority,” Kristy says.
“Applicants have been unable to reply to concerns raised by objectors during a hearing, and existing licences have been impacted by a change in their local council’s local alcohol policy.”
Local objections and licensing certainty
Under the proposed reforms, people lodging objections to a licence application would need to live in the local community where the premises operates.
The Bill would also allow applicants a written right of reply during licensing hearings and provide greater certainty for businesses renewing licences if their council’s Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) changes.
Kristy says the measures would help address what has become a complex and time-consuming process.
“While these changes do not fix the alcohol licensing system, we believe they return some balance into what has become an arduous process.”
Televised events and zero-alcohol options
Hospitality NZ also supports proposed changes allowing greater flexibility for hospitality venues screening televised events outside normal licensed hours, removing the need for a legislative process each time.
The Bill would also allow zero-alcohol beverages to count towards requirements for low-alcohol options on menus — something Phillips says reflects changing drinking habits.
Digital ID for alcohol purchases
The amendments would expand approved evidence-of-age documents to include accredited digital identity credentials and services.
Hospitality NZ’s Kiwi Access Card is expected to become New Zealand’s first private-sector digital 18+ photo ID through a partnership with NEC New Zealand.
Kristy says several of the proposals stem from industry advocacy and recommendations from the 2024 Hospitality Summit Report.
“Last week’s 2026 Summit continued these discussions, and it’s pleasing to see the momentum building from a strong collaborative approach across industry and with the government,” she says.
Hospitality NZ says it intends to support the Bill as it progresses through Parliament.
