Public input into how Western Bay of Plenty residents purchase and consume alcohol is open from today.

The submissions period on the Local Alcohol Policy created jointly by the WBOP District Council and Tauranga City Council is open until September 5.

A Local Alcohol Policy is a new authority delegated to councils as a result of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act becoming law in December 2012.

The new law intends to ensure the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol is done responsibly and to minimise the harm caused by excessive drinking.

The policy will guide decisions on the number and location of new licensed premises and can set opening hours and other conditions. The policy covers rules for both ‘on' and ‘off' licensed premises, club licences and special licences.

Public opinion is wanted on whether licensed premises or liquor outlets should be located near schools, churches, childcare centres or retirement villages; whether there should be fewer or more licensed premises; what hours should they open and whether there should be restrictions on how late people can enter on-licensed premises.

The draft policy was formulated following a survey last year which received more than 805 responses. Now it is time for the public to comment on the work so far.

The main changes include:

•Extending maximum operating hours for on-licensed premises to 3am for Tauranga City and the entire Western Bay of Plenty District.

•Refusing entry to all new customers entering an on-licensed premise after 2am.

•Setting maximum opening hours of 9pm for bottle stores and off-licences issued to hotels, taverns and clubs.

•Allowing new bottle stores and off-licences issued to hotels, taverns and clubs to open only as the population increases or other similar venues close.

•New bottle stores and off-licenses issued to hotels, taverns and clubs cannot be issued to premises if they are located within 500 metres of early childhood centres, schools and other bottle stores and off-licences issued to hotels, taverns and clubs.

Public input is sought on where licensed premises should be or not be located, whether it's okay for licensed premises to be located near community facilities- or not, should there be fewer or more licensed premises, what their operating hours should be, and whether a one-way door policy is needed.

Submissions can be made on-line at Western Bay of Plenty District Council website or Tauranga City Council www.tauranga.govt.nz or drop into either council's libraries and services centres at Barkes Corner, Katikati, Omokoroa, Te Puke, Waihi Beach, Mt Maunganui, Greerton, Papamoa or Tauranga City.

Following hearings planned for September 2013 a provisional policy will be developed after which there will be an appeals period. If there are no appeals the policy will be adopted early next year. If there are appeals the policy will go to the national body Alcohol Regulatory Licensing Authority for further consideration.

The Draft Local Alcohol Policy can be viewed on both councils' websites: www.westernbay.govt.nz or www.tauranga.govt.nz