The government plans to revise the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, enabling restaurants with on-site retail areas to offer takeaway alcohol sales.
The proposed amendment would allow restaurants to apply for an off-licence, provided they also offer takeaway food or non-alcoholic beverages prepared on-site.
The bill originated as a member’s bill from National Party MP Chris Bishop (Hutt South) in 2018, before being handed over to Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick in 2023 after Bishop’s appointment as a minister.
The bill was drawn from the ballot in April and has now been adopted as government legislation by Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee.
McKee noted that restaurants already hold trust under on-licences to serve alcohol, and the proposed law change would let them seek approval to sell it for off-site consumption too.
“Right now, restaurants that prepare and sell food products like sauces, pastries or desserts for consumption off-site are effectively barred from selling customers a bottle of wine to take home,” McKee said.
“These rigid rules have created absurd barriers to responsible businesses providing a unique experience their customers want.”
McKee described the current law as “nonsensical,” citing La Bella Italia in Petone as an example—a venue with a restaurant and on-site shop under one roof.
She said the restaurant had to navigate “all sorts of hoops” just to sell wine for customers to take home alongside their meals.
Restaurants would still need to maintain an on-licence to sell alcohol for on-site consumption.