Across ANZ: Centuries Old Alcohol Ban Repealed By New Zealand Parliament

adam wilson

In the year 1881, the New Zealand Parliament passed the Licensing Act, which changed many of the laws and regulations surrounding the distribution of alcohol. One notable point found within the Licensing Act was Clause 154, which prohibited the sale of alcohol on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day. 

This law reflects a time in which New Zealand was much more religious, with about 85% of the New Zealand population practicing some form of Christianity during the 19th century. This addition to the law was meant to reinforce Christian ideals in New Zealand culture, with the bans on the sale of alcohol on important religious days representing a sense of religious obligation. However, as time has gone on, laws such as these have become rather antiquated.

In the present day, over 51% of New Zealanders identify as irreligious, with secularism becoming more and more common. Due to this shift, many have called for laws based on religious ideas to be repealed or reworked. Parliament has heard the calls of New Zealanders, and many laws have begun being reworked.

Notably, on March 16th, 2026, the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act was brought to Parliament for amendment. More recently, on April 1st, 2026, the third reading of the act was completed, and the amendments were approved by Parliament. This allows for many businesses to remain open on the important Christian days that were previously prohibited. In fact, this amendment was passed just in time for Good Friday and Easter Sunday, which was greatly appreciated by many New Zealanders. 

While in the process of the amendment making its way through Parliament, many members of Parliament were rather certain it would pass. Even if the amendment did not align with the ideals of more conservative parties that hold seats in Parliament, the existence of conscience votes within the New Zealand Parliamentary system allows for MPs to vote outside of their party. 

With MPs and citizens alike feeling so strongly about this outdated law being amended, it was no wonder that it was able to make its way through Parliament quickly enough to benefit New Zealanders in time for Easter weekend. It’s certain that New Zealanders were excited as well, with MP Kieren McAnulty referring to the old system as a “farce of a law”. 

Despite this amendment seemingly being a major shift, it has not truly changed anything significant for New Zealanders. The reality of the newly amended law is that alcohol will still not be sold in supermarkets or liquor stores, as these establishments will remain closed on these holidays. The new amendment only significantly changes the prior vagueness which existed in some terms used. The amendment sought to eliminate this vague language entirely by removing the clause that included it.

Prior to the amendment, the law stated that in order to purchase alcoholic beverages at licensed locations on the affected public holidays, patrons must purchase a substantial meal alongside their beverage. The issue with this was that what constituted a “substantial meal” was not defined, and eating said meal was not required either. In practice, the law acted as a formality, with no proper enforcement. Bars, clubs, and restaurants were still selling alcohol on these holidays through loose interpretations of the law, so keeping them in place was no longer deemed necessary by Parliament. 

In essence, alcohol did not become any more accessible than it already was on these holidays following the amendment. Instead, the already sidestepped laws that would have made it less accessible were rewritten such that alcohol was now fully allowed to be sold in the locations it was already being sold in. Still prohibited for sale in supermarkets or liquor stores on holidays, alcohol did not rise in availability, but laws regarding it did become more straightforward. 

Despite a lack of actual change, bar and club owners across the country are praising the change. While the required purchase of a “substantial meal” was only an inconvenience for most New Zealanders, it did serve as a point of confusion for tourists or immigrants, who were unfamiliar with the law. Removing this limitation will help bar and club owners significantly by streamlining the drink sale process on these major holidays. 

Bar owners and consumers alike saw this law as mostly inconsequential, only causing mild inconvenience on just a few days out of the year. Even still, the amendment that was passed this Easter completely eliminated the law, much to the delight of all those looking to have a drink on their holiday off. Small wins like this are happily accepted by New Zealand bar owners, as the hospitality and tourism industries in the country are some of the most profitable, with one in every nine New Zealanders employed by these industries.  

This change, while very minor in its actual impact, is still quite notable to New Zealanders. The amendment finds its roots in a shift to secularism, brings small but noticeable benefits to the tourism and hospitality industry, and makes it easier for everyone to get a drink on their day off.