Having passed its third reading, the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Amendment Bill is due to come into effect today, meaning trading as usual over Easter weekend.
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Sales on Anzac Day Morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day) Amendment Bill, which clarifies trading and service restrictions across the four restricted trading days in the calendar year, has officially passed its third reading.
These rules represent a significant change in how hospitality venues have been required to operate across Easter weekend, most notably the requirement to only serve drinks with a meal.
More flexibility means more customers, more sales, and more vibrant communities. It's good for business and good for the people who just want to enjoy a night out with friends and family, said ACT MP and hospitality spokesperson Cameron Luxton.
The passage of a law change will allow pubs and bars to operate normally over Easter and ANZAC Day, following an amendment from ACT MP and hospitality spokesperson Cameron Luxton.
“New Zealand’s hospitality sector has been tied up in knots for years by outdated trading rules that simply don’t reflect how people live today,” said Luxton.
“From this weekend, no more forced 12am closures, no more confusion about what counts as a ‘substantial meal’, and no more telling customers they have to go home just as things are getting started.”
Luxton said he has heard from bar owners up and down the country who were dreading having to turn people away early over Easter and ANZAC Day, especially with major events like Christchurch’s new stadium opening bringing people together.
He said this change will bring some much-needed common sense back into the law. If a venue is licensed and operating responsibly, it should be able to decide its own hours.
“Hospitality businesses have had a tough few years with rising costs, staff shortages, and compliance burdens. The last thing they need is archaic rules making it harder to serve customers and turn a profit,” he added.
“More flexibility means more customers, more sales, and more vibrant communities. It’s good for business and good for the people who just want to enjoy a night out with friends and family.”
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