Big changes ahead for alcohol sales in Auckland

Strict new rules around alcohol sales in Auckland will start in December after a unanimous vote from the city’s councillors.

Auckland’s new local alcohol policy will come into full effect by 9 December 2024.

After nearly a decade of legal appeals that went all the way to the Supreme Court, the local alcohol policy for Auckland was approved by the Alcohol and Regulatory Licensing Authority at the start of August. It went before the council’s governing body at the end of the month where it received the final seal of approval from councillors.

The first changes will come in on 16 September, when stricter rules for new off-licences opening in the central city and 23 other suburbs come into force.

Auckland Council says that these rules will mean that from 16 September any application to open an off-licence in these areas is likely to be declined for the next two years, unless a very high threshold is met.

Changes to maximum trading hours will come in three months later, on 9 December 2024. From this date:

• bottle shops and supermarkets across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will not be able to sell alcohol after 9pm.

• bars, restaurants and other on-licences permitted by the District Licensing Committee will be able to sell alcohol until no later than 4am in the central city, and 3am outside of the central city.

• sports clubs and RSAs permitted by the District Licensing Committee will be able to sell alcohol until 1am.

Auckland Council says the policy will not impact special licences for festivals and events and that these will continue to be assessed by the District Licensing Committee, as they are now.

It says licence holders will receive regular information by email over the next few months.