Easter trading laws confuse

Easter trading laws confuse

Confusion amongst customers and the hospitality industry could leave consumers disappointed this Easter, this message from Adam Cunningham, President of Hospitality New Zealand. From a sale of liquor perspective the special days are Good Friday and Easter Sunday. This means that on those days bars and restaurants are only open for the purpose of dining (if at all). It also means that they must shut from midnight on the Thursday before Easter and midnight on Easter Saturday. Mr Cunningham said the midnight closures may well leave Breakers fans being unable to celebrate semi-final success tonight, and similarly Highlanders fans celebrating their success on Good Friday.

The added confusion is that while Easter Sunday is a special day from a sale of liquor perspective, it is not a statutory day from a Holidays Act perspective. Hospitality businesses incur significant costs on Good Friday and Easter Monday and as a result on these days some decide not to open at all, again leaving customers potentially disappointed.

It is very sad that on a weekend of relaxation bars and restaurants, who are at the heart of how New Zealanders relax, are unable to meet the legitimate expectations of their customers. Parliament had the opportunity to correct these anomalies when they debated the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act last year but failed to do so.

The hospitality industry is asking that its customers are tolerant of the restrictions as they are not of the industry’s making, concluded Mr Cunningham.

ENDS

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