The Dunedin City Council’s staff-only social club has been allowed to keep selling alcohol despite its drink prices being deemed "at the low end" by its own licensing committee. The committee understood Mr Stucki’s argument the club should be overseen by agencies other than council-employed licensing inspectors. While there was an ability for regulatory agencies to monitor premises, the committee understood premises were visited based on risk. A lot of premises, particularly club premises such as bowling and bridge clubs, were not visited because they were considered very low risk. Neither police, the medical officer of health delegate nor the council’s chief licensing inspector opposed the renewal of the club licence.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 05, 2026 16:05 UTC