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Alcohol licences

New Zealand and international research [8-10] highlights a clear relationship between the density of alcohol outlets (and the proximity of outlets to residential areas, and areas of higher social deprivation) and measures of alcohol-related harm, although the relationships are complex [11]. Broadly, a greater availability of alcohol leads to increased consumption, which in turn leads to more social harms (including antisocial behaviour, dishonesty offences, property damage, and violent offences) [11]. However, the level of social harm is also influenced by local factors such as population demographics including deprivation, differences in access to transport networks, and differences in the amenity or character of an area [11].

This indicator presents alcohol licence density per 10,000 population aged 15 years and over, by licence type, for greater Christchurch, Christchurch City, Selwyn District, Waimakariri District, and New Zealand, for 2016 and 2019 (currently, the 2019 New Zealand comparator is only available for total licence density). The licence types are: off-licence — such as supermarket, and liquor store; on- licence — bar, restaurant; and club-licence — an on-licence that allows a club to sell alcohol to club members and certain guests and visitors.

The alcohol licence density in greater Christchurch, 2016, is lower than for New Zealand as a whole across the three main licence types: on-licence (15.5 outlets and 17.6 outlets per 10,000 population), off-licence (5.1 outlets and 7.2 outlets per 10,000 population) and club licences (3.5 outlets and 4.9 outlets per 10,000 population), respectively.

The figure shows a general increase in total alcohol licence density in greater Christchurch between 2016 and 2019 (total of on-licence, off-licence, and club licence densities: 24.1/10,000 population and 26.8/10,000 population, respectively). In 2016, the total alcohol licence density in greater Christchurch was lower than for New Zealand as a whole (24.1 outlets and 29.6 outlets per 10,000 population, respectively). The figure also shows that the total alcohol licence densities differ across the three Territorial Authorities in greater Christchurch (In 2019 Christchurch City 29.4/10,000; Selwyn District 20/10,000; Waimakariri District 17.8/10,000). Waimakariri District had the lowest alcohol licence density in the greater Christchurch area in 2019.

The figure shows that the on-licence alcohol licence densities differed across the three Territorial Authorities in greater Christchurch in both 2016 and 2019. In 2019, Christchurch City had the highest on-licence density at 20.5/10,000 in 2019; followed by Waimakariri District 11/10,000 in 2019, and Selwyn District 9.2/10,000 in 2019.

The figure shows that the off-licence alcohol licence densities differed across the three Territorial Authorities in greater Christchurch in both 2016 and 2019.  In 2019, the off-licence density was highest in Selwyn District at 6/10,000, followed by Christchurch City 5.3/10,000 and Waimakariri District 4.3/10,000. There is currently no New Zealand comparator available for 2019, however, in 2016 the off-licence alcohol licence density in greater Christchurch was lower than for New Zealand as a whole (5.1 off-licences/10,000 population and 7.2 off-licences/10,000 population, respectively).

The figure shows that the club-licence alcohol licence densities differed across the three Territorial Authorities in greater Christchurch in both 2016 and 2019. In 2019, the club-licence density was highest in Selwyn District (4.8/10,000), followed by Christchurch City at 3.5/10,000 and Waimakariri District at 2.5/10,000. There is currently no New Zealand comparator available for 2019, however, in 2016 the club-licence alcohol licence density in greater Christchurch was lower than New Zealand as a whole (3.5 club-licences/10,000 population and 4.9 club-licences/10,000 population, respectively).