A new bottle store will open in Cambridge’s Victoria Street, but it will not look like a liquor outlet from the outside.
The Waipā District Licensing Committee gave permission to an off-licence application on December 23 for Blue Drops Ltd following a day-long hearing earlier in the month.
One of the 17 conditions imposed on Blue Drops is there is to be no external advertising of alcohol products on the building at 91 Victoria Street.
The licence was issued for 12 months allowing the applicants to sell alcohol Monday to Sunday 10am to 10pm.
Single sales of alcoholic products under 500ml are prohibited in the building which was the former Guthrie Bowron premises.
Commissioner Sara Grayson said the licensing committee was satisfied Blue Drops Ltd was a suitable company to hold an off-licence while directors Kanwaljeet Singh and Avtar Singh were both locally-based and experienced retailers with a “genuine care” for their community.
They own the building and have committed to having no advertising on it. The store will be painted blue, the front windows covered with frosted fil and no shelving displaying alcohol directly inside the front windows.
The Medical Officer of Health, who was the only person to ‘officially’ oppose the application, after police withdrew their opposition, was concerned at the possibility another bottle store in Cambridge would increase alcohol related harm.
“However, police currently do not have concerns about vulnerable communities in the area or any crime, intoxication or disorderly behaviour,” said Grayson.
The committee agreed with one of the Blue Drops directors who said Cambridge was experiencing rapid population growth meaning there was a demand for another bottle store.
“The licensing committee is satisfied that the grant of the off-licence, with appropriate conditions, will ensure the safe and responsible supply of alcohol and the minimisation of harm caused by excessive or inappropriate use of alcohol,” she said.
Read: ‘Another bottle store’ coming.
Read: Fears over liquor plan
Read: Public hearing over liquor plan
Read: New liquor licence bid
