Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill
This bill changes the rules around selling and serving alcohol in New Zealand. It lets hairdressers offer customers one drink during a visit, allows breweries and distilleries to sell tasting samples and also sell bottles to take home, and lets bars and clubs stay open late to screen major events like the Rugby World Cup. It also tightens who can formally object to a new liquor licence — only people who live or work nearby. Rapid delivery services (like alcohol ordered online for quick delivery) must check the person receiving the order is not drunk or under 18.
What this affects
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Breweries, distilleries, and meaderies get the same rights as wineries to sell tasting samples and bottles to take home, making it easier for these businesses to operate and earn money.
producer tasting room means retail premises operated by a person for the purposes of selling alcohol that is made by or on behalf of that person
a producer tasting room with an off-licence can sell, as a sample, wine, mead, beer, spirit, liqueur, or any other alcohol specified in regulations
Progress through Parliament
Have your say
This bill is open for public submissions to the Justice Committee. Anyone can tell the committee what they think, and you don’t need to be an expert. Submissions close 13 May 2026.
Bill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Arapono’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Arapono editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Arapono is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.