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Responsible management of alcohol

This guide gives you some tips, hints and contact details for the safe use of alcohol at your event and is for anyone hosting an event of fewer than 400 people.

Whether it is Aunty's 80th birthday party, a reunion, an anniversary, or a 21st, it is important that you responsibly manage alcohol at your event, which the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 requires you to do.

Your responsibilities

Specifically, the object of the Act is that the sale, supply, and consumption of alcohol should be undertaken safely and responsibly and that the harm caused by the excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol should be minimised. You will need to contact the Liquor Licence Inspector at your local Council to find out if you need a liquor licence for your event.

Listed in the Act (Sections 248 to 253) are the responsibilities of licensees around preventing intoxication and disorderly conduct on the premises for which their license applies. To allow either is an offence under the Act.

Licensees must provide free water that is easily accessible (Section 5 Interpretation: freely available to customers).

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 — New Zealand Legislation (external link)

Host responsibility means managing and monitoring patron consumption of alcohol, not waiting until intoxication becomes evident before doing anything.

Host responsibility guide — Amohia Te Waiora (external link)

Checklist

  • Find out from your local Council if you need a liquor licence.
  • Provide free and easily accessible water — if your event is in a rural area you will need to check your water supply is safe.
  • Provide and promote low alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages.
  • Provide and promote substantial food options and have these readily available.
  • Consider how alcohol will be served, and by whom.
  • Control the number of alcohol serves per person.
  • Security may be needed for the event, especially for preventing the entry of intoxicated people.
  • Provide training for staff and ensure they understand the process for dealing with intoxicated people.
  • Ensure you do not provide alcohol to anyone under 18 without the express consent of their parent or legal guardian or unless their parent or legal guardian is also present.
  • Promote safe transport options to and from the event.

Contacts

Public Health, councils and police can help with planning and delivering a safe and enjoyable event.

Public Health contacts

Council maps and websites — Local Government New Zealand (external link)

Find Police stations by district — New Zealand Police (external link)

Resources

Online and downloadable resources

You can download signs, posters, booklets and guides from our alcohol awareness websites.

Alcohol resources — Health Promotion (external link)

Resources and publications — Amohia Te Waiora (external link)

One for One resources

One for One is a Health NZ - Hawke's Bay brand that has been successfully promoted for a number of years by Health NZ, NZ Police, ACC and councils. One for One promotes safer drinking through a simple message: drink one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage, whether at home or at a licensed premise.

We have a range of free resources and equipment available including tear drop flags, canvas banners, posters and large screen visuals. Find out more about resources and merchandise we have by: