Revised Liquor Laws Effective On June

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30144, 30 May 1963, Page 14

Revised Liquor Laws Effective On June

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, May 29.

Though a small section of New Zealand’s new liquor laws is already operative, the main part of the legislation passed during the last session of Parliament will come into force on Saturday.

Under the new act, liquor may be sold K on licensed premises to any person, for consumption on or off the premises, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on any day other than a closing day; to a lodger, or an employee of the licensee living on the premises, at any time; and “to any person actually partaking of a substantial meal in any place (other than a bar) that is used for dining, whether on the particular occasion or not, for consumption as part of the meal at any time between 9 a.m. and 11.30 p.m. on any day.” New Licences

Hotels are designated as places where accommodation is provided and liquor sold. Provision is also made for "extended hotels,” which are a combination of a hotel on one site and a tavern on another.

The act provides that when an application is made this year for the renewal of a publican's or accommodation licence, the committee will issue a hotel premises licence to the owner of the building and a hotelkeeper’s licence to the owner of the business.

Liquor and Meals According to Section 65, a restaurant licensee may sell and serve wine (of less than 25 per cent, strength), beer or stout, to people seated at tables. It now need not be served in bottles only. The licensee or manager of a hotel is responsible for the regular supply of meals and accommodation to travellers, Where meals are asked for out of normal hours, the obligation is complied with by supplying food and refreshment with or without personal service. Refusal to Supply The licensee can refuse to supply on the grounds of the cleanliness or condition of the person, his known character, his conduct or behaviour.

Taverns, ordinary hotels, both premises of “extended

hotels,” and the separate bar premises of special hotels, are all required to have one or more public bars marked as such. The licensee or manager is forbidden, without reasonable cause, to refuse to supply any person in a public bar.

Section 199 provides that a licensee or manager or employee cannot refuse admission to any part of the premises, or refuse meals, accommodation or liquor, on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, beliefs or opinions. Special Dining Permit The Licensing Control Commission may grant special dining permits to hotels or chartered clubs. Where people dine under this permit they may buy liquor and drink in any lounge or lounge bar until 11.30 p.m., as well as drinking in the din-ing-room.

Another new section makes it clear that a permit may be granted for days when premises are required to be closed. A magistrate may refuse a permit if he thinks that the premises are unsuitable for a social gathering. This may apply where permission is sought to hold a gathering in a bar.

Restaurants wanting a liquor permit after 6 p.m. for a social gathering, or at any time on a closing day, may receive one, but in the case

of a licensed restaurant the gathering must be held in a separate room to which the public are not admitted. Drank on Premises If a licensee is charged with permitting a drunken person on his premises, it is a defence if he can prove that immediate and reasonable steps were taken to eject the person. In the case of a helplessly drunken person, the person may be taken to a bedroom or other room. Removal is no defence to a charge of supplying liquor to a drunken person. Drinking After Hours.

The police may still demand the name and address of any person found on licensed premises after hours (between 6.15 p.m. - and 9 a.m.) unless the person is consuming liquor with a meal- at a time when it is lawful for him to do so. The police may ask for satisfactory evidence, and, may arrest any person failing to give his name. Anyone charged with drinking after hours now has the onus of proof put on him in claiming he was there for a lawful purpose. If a person is charged with serving a minor, it is a defence that he believed- on reasonable grounds that the persoh served was over 21 (or over 18 in the case of a person having a meal).