Improving alcohol regulation

The Government is changing alcohol laws to make alcohol licensing more practical with the aim of while maintaining public safety.

The hospitality sector makes a significant contribution to New Zealand’s economy. To increase growth in the sector the Government is seeking to address known regulatory issues in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. 

Associate Justice Minister, Hon Nicole McKee, has said the focus of the package is to make more practical alcohol regulation without increasing the risk of alcohol-related harm. Also, some changes will directly reduce alcohol-related harm, including improved regulation of age verification, rapid delivery and the availability of non-alcoholic drinks.

The changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 include:

  • Updating District Licensing Committee (DLC) rules by giving applicants a right of reply to objectors, allowing only objections from local communities, and allowing DLCs considering applications to renew licences to change licence conditions under new Local Alcohol Policies, rather than completely declining to the applications.
  • Allowing premises like wineries, such as breweries and meaderies, to hold both on- and off-licences to support cellar-door sales.
  • Exempting hairdressers and barbers from holding a licence to supply small amounts of alcohol to customers.
  • Updating rules for rapid delivery of alcohol by clarifying that rapid delivery services are responsible for preventing delivery to underage and intoxicated purchasers.
  • Allowing digital age verification for alcohol purchases through the Digital Identification Trust Framework(external link).
  • Allowing on-licences and clubs to provide both zero- and/or no-alcohol drinks
  • Streamlining special licensing requirements. 

Next steps

A bill will be introduced to Parliament and referred to the Justice Committee for public submissions and hearings. 

Ministerial announcements

10 June 2025: Speech to the New Zealand Hospitality Conference(external link)

28 August 2025: Government reforms to improve alcohol regulation(external link)

2 September 2025: Government to streamline regulations for events (external link)

 
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