Minister Nicole McKee's U-Turn on Alcohol Sales Reform Exposed by Leaked Cabinet Paper

Recent leaks of a draft Cabinet paper have revealed a potential shift in the government's approach to alcohol sales reform, with Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee reportedly pivoting her focus from reducing alcohol harm to easing regulatory burdens on the alcohol industry.

The leaked documents, obtained by RNZ, show that McKee initially proposed restricting the hours during which bottle stores and supermarkets could sell alcohol. Originally, the plan was to change the current 7am to 11pm trading hours to a 9am to 9pm window. This change was based on evidence suggesting a strong correlation between extended trading hours and an increase in violent crime, with the potential to prevent up to 2,400 violent victimisations annually.

However, the leaked Cabinet paper indicates that this proposal was later abandoned. In its place, the focus has shifted toward reducing regulatory burdens on the alcohol industry, including measures to make it easier for clubs and bars to serve alcohol outside normal trading hours during major sporting or cultural events.

According to the draft Cabinet paper, the changes would also allow the alcohol industry to have more say in liquor licensing decisions, limiting objections to liquor licence applications to only those from the local community affected by the premises. This move has been criticized by health advocates, who argue that restricting off-licence trading hours could have had a significant impact on reducing alcohol-related harm, particularly in deprived communities.

Andrew Galloway, executive director of Alcohol Healthwatch, expressed concern over the shift in focus, stating that the government is missing critical opportunities to reduce alcohol harm if it continues to prioritize industry interests over public health.

McKee has not yet commented in detail on the leaked documents, but she has expressed disappointment over the leak, stating that it undermines the integrity of the public service and erodes public trust.

The proposed reforms are set to be discussed in a Cabinet committee on 13 August, with the revised focus on reducing red tape for law-abiding businesses. Critics argue that this shift may compromise public health efforts and exacerbate the already significant economic and social costs of alcohol harm in New Zealand, which currently stands at $9.1 billion annually.