New tool supports local input on alcohol licensing decisions

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-12-13 03:00

New Zealand

Image by Sasha Matveeva via UnSplash

Researchers have created an online tool to help New Zealanders fight against alcohol licensing applications in their communities. Using local data on factors like poverty, ethnicity, proximity to schools and hospitals, and existing licensed alcohol premises, the tool generates easy-to-read reports showing alcohol-related risks. The research team says these reports could help residents present strong, evidence-based objections to local alcohol license applications.

Media release

From: Written comment from study author:

Professor Daniel Exeter, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, comments:

"The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act (2012) provides an opportunity for communities to object to licensed liquor premises opening in their community. However, gathering the required information to use as evidence takes time and is complex. We developed a tool that combines relevant data that could be used to supplement a submission to a District Licensing Committee. Users can navigate to the online tool, enter the address of a proposed licensed premises, and the tool will provide a report describing the deprivation and demographic circumstances within 2km of that address. The tool is easy-to-use, available on demand, and is easily updatable into the future to ensure information provided is current and relevant. The Local Alcohol Report tool can be accessed at https://imdmap.auckland.ac.nz/."

Journal/
conference: Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Auckland

Funder: The IMD18 was developed as part of a larger project funded by the Auckland Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) (Grant #1119011).

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