Systemic inequities in alcohol licensing: Case studies in eight Aotearoa New Zealand communities.

Randerson S; Casswell S; Borell B; Rychert M; Gordon L; Lin E-Y; Huckle T; Graydon-Guy T

Systemic inequities in alcohol licensing: Case studies in eight Aotearoa New Zealand communities.

dc.citation.volume	Early View
dc.contributor.author	Randerson S
dc.contributor.author	Casswell S
dc.contributor.author	Borell B
dc.contributor.author	Rychert M
dc.contributor.author	Gordon L
dc.contributor.author	Lin E-Y
dc.contributor.author	Huckle T
dc.contributor.author	Graydon-Guy T
dc.coverage.spatial	Australia
dc.date.accessioned	2025-01-28T22:46:29Z
dc.date.available	2025-01-28T22:46:29Z
dc.date.issued	2025-01-21
dc.description.abstract	Introduction Many countries, including Aotearoa New Zealand, have socioeconomic and ethnic inequities in alcohol outlet density, yet the potential contribution of alcohol licensing systems is almost unexplored. After licensing reforms in Aotearoa in 2012, community groups and Māori (the Indigenous people) continued to struggle to influence decisions, prompting calls for reform and authority for Māori reflecting Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. This study explored factors in the failure of public objections in under-resourced neighbourhoods. Methods In a descriptive, multimethod qualitative study, we analysed eight decisions to grant off-licence approvals in socioeconomically deprived areas. Each licence was opposed. Hearing participants and local residents were interviewed. Data were thematically analysed to identify factors affecting objector influence, alignment with Indigenous rights and residents' awareness of alcohol issues and licensing processes. Results Residents identified relevant local harms but were largely unaware of opportunities to object. Objectors faced structural barriers to accessing and influencing hearings that were exacerbated by resource challenges, including travel costs, lost income, competing social issues and limited legal representation. Evidence of area deprivation supported objectors' arguments regarding risk, but a lack of official data on harms undermined them. Māori input was excluded by legal barriers and failures to recognise relevant rights and elements of culture. Discussion and Conclusions Structural barriers, including racism, restricted the influence of under-resourced communities and Māori in licensing decisions and weakened risk assessment, which may hinder community efforts to reduce their disproportionate exposure to alcohol outlets. Licensing systems should be reviewed from equity and Indigenous perspectives.
dc.description.confidential	false
dc.identifier.author-url	https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39838758
dc.identifier.citation	Randerson S, Casswell S, Borell B, Rychert M, Gordon L, Lin E-Y, Huckle T, Graydon-Guy T. (2025). Systemic inequities in alcohol licensing: Case studies in eight Aotearoa New Zealand communities.. Drug Alcohol Rev. Early View.
dc.identifier.doi	10.1111/dar.13997
dc.identifier.eissn	1465-3362
dc.identifier.elements-type	journal-article
dc.identifier.issn	0959-5236
dc.identifier.uri	https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/72428
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	John Wiley and Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs
dc.publisher.uri	http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.13997
dc.relation.isPartOf	Drug Alcohol Rev
dc.rights	(c) The author/s	en
dc.rights.license	CC BY-NC-ND	en
dc.rights.uri	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/	en
dc.subject	Indigenous rights
dc.subject	alcohol licensing
dc.subject	alcohol outlet density
dc.subject	inequity
dc.subject	structural racism
dc.title	Systemic inequities in alcohol licensing: Case studies in eight Aotearoa New Zealand communities.
dc.type	Journal article
pubs.elements-id	499454
pubs.organisational-group	Other