Councillor Clarifies Misunderstanding Over Alcohol Regulations

A misunderstanding regarding local alcohol regulations arose during a meeting of the Marlborough Council when Councillor Malcolm Taylor mistakenly believed it was illegal to purchase alcohol from a supermarket and transport it home. This assertion prompted the council’s legal team to clarify the actual provisions of the region’s alcohol bylaw.

During Thursday’s meeting, Taylor raised concerns while discussing the proposal to extend alcohol prohibitions in the area. He cited a printed copy of the bylaw, claiming it excluded closed containers of alcohol unless taken directly from the store. He stated, “Our actual bylaw, which I printed out, does exclude closed bottles or closed containers of alcohol, except for taking immediately away from the supermarket or place of purchase.”

Taylor suggested that if the council expanded Picton’s alcohol prohibition area to include the FreshChoice supermarket, it would effectively criminalize residents from nearby Piwaka Lodge from purchasing beer and carrying it home.

To clarify, the bylaw explicitly states, “This bylaw does not regulate, control or prohibit, in the case of alcohol in an unopened container… the transport of the alcohol from licensed premises next to a public place if it was lawfully bought on those premises for consumption off the premises; and it is promptly removed from the public place.”

Despite this, Mayor Nadine Taylor expressed concern during the meeting, suggesting that the council’s legal team investigate the matter further. After the session, the legal team confirmed that transporting unopened alcohol does not violate the bylaw.

Councillor Taylor’s comments followed an explanation from Karen Winters, the council’s environmental health team leader, who clarified that the alcohol prohibitions pertain only to public spaces and open containers. “These [areas] only affect public space, so not private homes or businesses. And it only affects open bottles of alcohol and actual consumption,” she explained.

The council is currently reviewing proposals to extend alcohol ban areas in Blenheim and Picton, as well as introducing a new ban in Renwick. These changes were prompted by police requests due to rising complaints about disorderly conduct, particularly in the Taylor River Reserve, where public safety issues have been reported.

Winters noted that the Taylor River Reserve has become an area of concern for police, attributing the issues to poor lighting and low foot traffic. Extending the alcohol control areas would enhance police authority to address these safety concerns. The proposed extension would cover the reserve and reach the public walkways at Park Terrace, as well as several key locations in Picton, including the library and petrol station.

In response to rising crime and public disturbances in Renwick, the council aims to make permanent the temporary alcohol control zone established for events like the Marlborough Wine and Food Festival. Councillor Allanah Burgess urged community members to voice their opinions on the proposed changes, stating, “That way we know exactly what [the public] want, because I also noticed these things in our community, and I’m fully supportive of this happening.”

The council’s ongoing discussions reflect a commitment to improving public safety while balancing residents’ rights to enjoy alcohol responsibly in their communities.