A bottle store owner looking to extend his chain of stores to the heart of the Mount CBD is coming under increasing pressure for his lack of due diligence into the proposed site and surrounding demographic.

Go Liquor Limited managing director Inderpreet Singh is applying for a liquor licence at the former Vogue Lighting store in ‘Vogue House' at 9 Prince Avenue.

Go Liquor Limited managing director Inderpreet Singh. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

Mount Mainstreet Peter Melgren is opposed to the alcohol store, as is Mount business owner Mark Rundell.

It is Inderpreet's intention to open a 'high end” bottle store specialising in premium wines and whiskeys along with general alcohol.

Before the District Licensing Committee today, Inderpreet says he is aware the area is a permanent liquor free zone but says there are already two other bottle stores in the allocated area.

The other liquor stores are Downtown Foodmarket and Mount Liquor Mart, both on Maunganui Road.

'We do not consider that a third liquor store in the liquor-free zone will add to the alcohol harm,” says Inderpreet.

'My reason to apply for a liquor licence in this store is that it's in a town centre in a commercial area not in a residential area.”

But he faces a barrage of opposition, 18 submissions in total, including submissions from Police, Tauranga District Licensing Committee and Mount businesses undermining his lack of CBD knowledge.

In front of the committee and opposition, Inderpreet estimated the store would earn $20,000 a week to start off, before this increases to $35,000 once a cliental base is developed.

Western Bay of Plenty Police alcohol harm reduction co-ordinator Sergeant Nigel McGlone put it to Inderpreet that a third liquor store would do nothing but increase the level of alcohol-related harm.

He says if the bottle store is not opened, there is no other option than for the public to go elsewhere in way of purchasing alcohol.

Inderpreet – who currently operates three other licensed premises; Hot Spot Liquor on Oceanbeach Road, Papamoa Liquor Centre on Gravatt Road, and Thirsty Liquor Unit on Domain Road – disagrees.

'I don't believe so. If you are doing the right thing by following the law what difference if they are buying it from here or down the block?

'We have proven before by winning the hearing in 2012 for our other store that by adding a third store in the same area will not contribute to liquor abuse.”

The basis of Inderpreet's application is on what he says is research from the existing bottle store on Oceanbeach Road.

He claims the demographic and median age is the same in the two areas.

Liquor licensing inspector Danielle Jurgeleit says this is false with 12 per cent of the Mount Maunganui North demographic under 15-years, a worrying percentage given the application to open the store less than 300 metres away from residential properties.

She adds the vacant space next to the intended bottle store is being earmarked as a cake store where families can purchase cake and coffee, a space that will not be benefitted by a bottle store.

Inderpreet's interpretation of a 'high end” bottle store also comes under fire with licensing committee member David Stewart questioning whether the 25-40 age bracket Inderpreet is targeting will make the trip into the CBD.

The licencing committee is chairman Murray Clearwater and committee members Mary Dillon and David Stewart.