Environment

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 and New Zealand, for 2016 (the licence types are: off-licence— such as supermarket and grocery 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 that alcohol licence density for 2016 differs across the three Territorial Authorities in greater Christchurch, particularly for the on-licence outlet type. For Christchurch City, the densities of the different alcohol licences (on-licence, off-licence, and club-licence) were: 17.2, 5.1, and 3.6 outlets per 10,000 population, respectively (total for Christchurch City 25.9/10,000). For Selwyn District, the densities of the different alcohol licences were 8.2, 4.6, and 3.4 outlets per 10,000 population, respectively (total 16.2/10,000), and in Waimakariri District, 11.0, 5.0, and 3.2 outlets per 10,000 population, respectively (total 19.1/10,000). Selwyn District had the lowest alcohol licence density in the greater Christchurch area in 2016. 

Data Sources

Source: Environmental Health Indicators Programme, Massey University.
Survey/data set: Administrative data for 2016. Access publicly available alcohol licence density data from the Massey University website www.healthspace.ac.nz/maps/maps_Alcohol.html
Source data frequency: Next planned update in 2020.

View technical notes and data tables for this indicator.

Updated: 14/10/2020