Column - F&B Magazine

Dangerous Times

It seems that liquor retailers are increasingly being exposed to violence, threats of violence and robbery. It is a sad indictment on New Zealand society that a small group of people seem to think they have the absolute right to take other people’s property, injure or even kill innocent hard working New Zealanders. Recent events in South Auckland have resulted in a wave of hysteria. This could be a good thing if that hysteria was focussed on how we target that small group who have no respect for others. There should be emotion in rhetoric, there should be passion, and it should be calling for increased police resourcing and a zero tolerance policy to those who seem to be able to offend too often with impunity.

So has the recent rhetoric been close to focussing on those who should be taken off the streets and locked away for a very long time? Unfortunately no. It appears it is liquor retailers that are at fault. It would seem that liquor retailers are finding these poor unfortunates and plying them with liquor and encouraging them to pursue a life of crime and violence. As a result the remedy is now to reduce the number of liquor licences and look for more penalties against liquor retailers.

It must be election year because some of our politicians have clearly completely lost the plot and are missing the target by a very wide margin. Indeed we may have too many liquor licences, and the Hospitality Association requested the Government to apply a moratorium on new liquor licences 18 months ago. Realistically however, this horse has long and truly bolted, and the politicians would do well to shift the target and the resources to getting these criminals off the streets, to create an environment where New Zealand citizens and retailers can safely go about their business. It is election year and the silly season is truly upon us, but let’s hope our politicians can focus on the real issues and the real culprits, rather than what can only be seen as cynical, diversionary politics.

Bruce H Robertson
Chief Executive
Hospitality Association of NZ

30 June 2008