A Member’s Bill currently before Parliament, which aims to simplify the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, may have serious unintended consequences for clubs and particularly RSAs.

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Sales on Anzac Day Morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day) Amendment Bill proposes repealing Sections 47 and 48 of the Act to allow licensed premises to open and trade as usual on ANZAC Day morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day without needing a special licence.

“On the surface, this seems like a step in the right direction, but for clubs, especially RSAs, it’s quite the opposite,” says Clubs New Zealand Chief Executive Lucy Waterreus.

“The Bill’s explanatory note claims that repealing Sections 47 and 48 will prevent the need to apply for a special licence to serve alcohol to veterans after ANZAC Day services. However, the opposite will occur.

Currently, RSAs and other club licence holders are not subject to Section 47 as they hold club licences. Instead, Section 47A, which was introduced in 2015 to fix a long-standing anomaly, allows RSA clubs to serve alcohol between 4am and 1pm on ANZAC Day without needing a special licence. This ensures veterans can be served a traditional tot of rum or drink following dawn services.

“If the Bill passes as it stands, Section 47A will also be repealed, stripping RSAs of this vital exemption. That means most RSAs will once again be required to apply for special licences to open on ANZAC Day morning, despite the Bill’s stated purpose of reducing the need for such licences.

“This is not a step forward for clubs, it’s a step backward.

“Many RSAs and clubs operate under reduced trading hours due to local alcohol policies or to suit their regular activities. Without the protection of Section 47A, some may not be licensed to open at all on ANZAC Day if it falls on a Monday, for example.

“Clubs New Zealand fully supports simplifying the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act and removing unnecessary confusion. However, this Bill is misguided in its current form. It will create new barriers for RSAs and undermine decades-old ANZAC Day traditions.

“Clubs New Zealand looks forward to participating in the select committee process to ensure that the potential impact on clubs and RSAs is fully understood by Parliament.”

© Scoop Media