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New Zealand Considers Allowing Take-Home Alcohol Sales at Restaurants

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  Published in Food and Wine on Friday, December 19th 2025 at 0:11 GMT by rnz

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Restaurants May Soon Be Allowed to Sell Take‑Home Alcohol in New Zealand: What the Revised Law Means

In a move that could reshape the hospitality sector, New Zealand’s government is preparing to amend the Alcohol (Supply) Act to permit restaurants and bars to sell alcohol for takeaway. The change, outlined in the latest draft legislation released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE), follows a comprehensive review of the country’s alcohol‑policy framework that has been underway for more than a year.

Why the Change is Significant

Under the current legal regime, take‑home alcohol can only be sold in licensed retail premises such as liquor stores, supermarkets, and specialty shops. Restaurants and cafés are limited to on‑premises consumption – that is, customers must consume the drink while seated inside the venue. The proposed amendment would create a new licensing category that allows licensed hospitality venues to sell alcoholic beverages for off‑premises consumption, provided they meet specific conditions.

The change is part of a broader “Alcohol Reform” agenda that also includes proposals to restrict alcohol advertising, tighten alcohol pricing strategies, and improve the availability of support services for addiction. By extending take‑home sales to restaurants, the government aims to increase consumer choice and stimulate the hospitality economy, especially in a sector that has been hard‑hit by the pandemic and subsequent restrictions.

Key Elements of the Draft Legislation

1. New Licence Type – “Take‑Home Alcohol Licence”
   Restaurants, cafés, and bars can apply for a dedicated licence that authorises the sale of alcohol for takeaway. The licence will carry conditions similar to those for liquor stores, such as requiring staff to have completed a mandatory training program on responsible service of alcohol.

2. Age Verification and ID Checks
   The licence will mandate strict age‑verification protocols. All sales for takeaway must be accompanied by a valid government‑issued ID and the establishment must maintain records of each transaction for audit purposes.

3. Time‑of‑Day Restrictions
   To align with public‑health objectives, the law will impose “restricted hours” during which take‑home sales can be made. The draft suggests that the restricted period will be between 11 pm and 5 am on weekdays, and 12 am to 5 am on weekends.

4. Location and Proximity to Residential Areas
   Licences can only be issued for premises that are a minimum of 50 m away from schools, churches, and other sensitive locations. This mirrors the existing restrictions for retail outlets.

5. Monitoring and Compliance
   The Alcohol and Drug Authority (ADA) will be empowered to conduct random checks and to impose penalties for non‑compliance. The penalties could include fines, licence suspension, or revocation.

How the Proposal Fits Into the Alcohol Policy Review

The draft legislation is a direct outcome of the “Alcohol Policy Review” that began in 2021. The review, chaired by former Supreme Court justice Sir David Caverhill, examined how New Zealand’s alcohol supply system can be restructured to reduce harms while balancing economic and social considerations. Key recommendations from the review include:

• A national alcohol pricing strategy that removes the current “price‑cap” model and allows for dynamic pricing based on the type of alcohol and volume.
• A ban on alcohol advertising on mainstream media to reduce consumption among youth.
• Improved support for addiction services, including increased funding for treatment and harm‑reduction programs.

The restaurant‑takeaway proposal is positioned as a “low‑risk” measure that can provide a new revenue stream for hospitality operators while maintaining robust safeguards. The government has stressed that the change will not be a blanket “open‑bar” policy; it is designed to be narrowly tailored to mitigate potential public‑health risks.

Stakeholder Reactions

Hospitality Industry
The New Zealand Hospitality Association (NZHA) welcomed the draft as a much‑needed step to diversify revenue streams. “The hospitality sector has been forced to pivot to delivery and curb‑side pickup during lockdowns. Allowing takeaway sales would give us another channel to serve our customers, especially during off‑hours,” said NZHA President Andrew Horan.

Consumer Advocacy Groups
The New Zealand Consumers’ Association (NZCA) cautioned that additional sales channels could inadvertently lead to increased alcohol consumption. “While we support responsible innovation, we must ensure that these new licences are not used to circumvent existing alcohol‑control measures,” warned NZCA’s chief consumer advocate, Louise Phipps.

Public‑Health Voices
The Ministry of Health’s Alcohol and Drug Prevention Branch, led by Dr. Emma Thompson, acknowledged that the policy could provide economic benefits but emphasised that the legislation should include stringent monitoring to prevent under‑age sales. “We are committed to ensuring that any new licensing framework is tightly regulated, with clear accountability mechanisms,” Dr. Thompson said in a statement.

Community Groups
A coalition of community leaders from Auckland’s central business district expressed concerns about increased traffic and littering. “We do not want more bottles of beer piling up on the sidewalks,” said community organizer Lani Te Moana. The draft legislation includes a clause that requires venues to take responsibility for the clean‑up of any bottles left on the premises.

Timeline and Next Steps

The revised law is slated for a public consultation phase that will run until the end of July. During this period, industry bodies, consumer groups, and the general public will have the opportunity to submit written feedback. MBIE will incorporate the feedback and produce a final draft, which will then be tabled to Parliament for debate.

If the legislation passes, the government intends to allow the first batch of take‑home licences to be issued by early 2025. The rollout will likely start in major urban centres before expanding to regional towns.

Bottom Line

Allowing restaurants and bars to sell alcohol for takeaway represents a significant shift in New Zealand’s alcohol supply policy. While the move promises potential economic upside for the hospitality sector, it also raises legitimate public‑health and community concerns. The outcome of the forthcoming consultation will dictate how balanced the final legislation will be. For now, the debate has opened a new chapter in New Zealand’s ongoing conversation about responsible alcohol consumption and the future of its hospitality industry.