This page provides general information and resources about Local Alcohol Policies (LAPs). It summarises what they are, the matters they can cover, and how to develop a LAP.
Click to go to the section listed below: What's Happening? The SSAA 2012 - Local Alcohol Policies What a LAP can cover The effect of a LAP Developing a LAP Changing or reviewing a LAP Resources
ActionPoint For more information on Local Alcohol Policies.
What's Happening?
The status of Local Alcohol Policies throughout New Zealand’s 67 Territorial Authorities, as at October 2025 can be found here:
CURRENT STATUS OF LAPs IN EACH NZ COUNCIL
Of the 67 councils in New Zealand, 41 (61%) have Local Alcohol Policies which have been adopted. These policies now cover approximately 80 percent of the NZ population, including Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Tauranga cities.
If you have any questions or require further information about this document or any other LAP specific information, email jennifer@ahw.org.nz.
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 allows territorial authorities to develop local alcohol policies (LAPs).
A LAP is a set of decisions made by a territorial authority in consultation with its community about the sale and supply of alcohol in its geographical area.
Once a LAP is in place, licensing bodies must have regard to the policy when they make decisions on licence applications.
LAPs are optional. Territorial authorities are not required to have a LAP.
Each territorial authority can only have one LAP. However, a LAP can have different conditions for different areas within the territorial authority’s district.
Two or more territorial authorities may develop a joint LAP.
Through LAPs, communities will be able to:
- Limit the location of licences in particular areas such as in specific neighbourhoods, or near certain types of facilities such as schools or places of worship and other “sensitive sites”
- Limit the density of licences by specifying whether licences or types of licences should be issued in a particular area or near other licensed premises or if there should be a limit on the issuing of licences in the district or part of the district
- Impose conditions on licences, such as a “one-way door” condition that would allow patrons to leave premises but not enter or re-enter after a certain time
- Restrict or extend the maximum opening hours set in the Act:
- 8am - 4am for on-licences (such as pubs and restaurants)
- 7am - 11pm for off-licences (such as bottle stores and supermarkets).
- Include other discretionary conditions that can address the management of the premises and alignment with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles and include conditions such as those that limit alcohol-related signage or advertising, restrict single sales of alcohol, and restrict the use of “buy now pay later” schemes to purchase alcohol.
LAPs must be reasonable and consistent with the object of the Act. The first two bullet points above will not apply to special licences and LAPs cannot include policies on matters unrelated to licensing.
Licensing bodies must have regard to LAPs when they make decisions about licence applications.
The Act aims, through LAPs, to give local communities more input into licensing decisions and also to limit the availability and accessibility of alcohol in New Zealand. This means local outlets of national businesses (eg, supermarket chains) may have different opening hours or conditions depending on where they are located.
Importantly, the Supreme Court decision on the Auckland Council Provisional LAP affirmed that “a precautionary approach is open and that, in any event, a restriction may be justified on the basis of there being a reasonable likelihood that it will reduce alcohol-related harm”, and that “policies that are implemented by a local alcohol policy can be based on, or at least influenced by, community preference”.
If a territorial authority decides to have a LAP it must:
- Develop a draft LAP in consultation with Police, licensing inspectors and Medical Officers of Health.
- Consider the range of factors set out in the legislation including data on licensed premises in the district, the demography of people in (or visiting) the district, and the objectives and policies of the council’s district plan.
- Consult the community on the draft policy using the special consultative procedure in the Local Government Act 2002.
- Give public notice of the finalised policy.
- Adopt the policy 30 days after it is publicly notified.
- Give public notice of the LAP’s adoption and the date it will come into effect (as determined by council resolution). If there is a change to maximum trading hours or the introduction or modification of a one-way door policy, then at least 3 months’ notice must be given after the public notification of the finalised policy.
- Give licensees affected by the LAP’s new or amended elements written notice of the relevant policies.
- Provide a copy of the LAP to the Alcohol Regulatory & Licensing Authority.
If a territorial authority decides to change or replace its LAP, it must go through the same process it took to develop it, including following the special consultative procedure in the Local Government Act 2002.
A territorial authority must review its LAP every six years using the special consultative procedure in the Local Government Act 2002, although a LAP does not automatically lapse if not renewed or replaced within the six-year timeframe.
If a territorial authority decides to revoke a LAP so that it no longer applies to the district, it must also follow the special consultative procedure in the Local Government Act 2002.
If you require more information on LAPs or advice on ensuring a LAP is effective, please contact us.