Submissions

To: Dunedin City Council
Date: November 2024

Purpose

The core purpose of this submission is to express DPA's strong support for the proposed policy's adoption from a disability perspective given that it proposes, amongst other things, earlier closing times for off-licenses selling alcohol. DPA aims to explain how these changes will contribute to building a safer and healthier Ōtepoti Dunedin for everyone, particularly disabled people, by addressing the disproportionate risks they face due to alcohol use, such as violence, crime, harassment, and property damage.

Summary of DPA submission

Disabled Persons Assembly NZ (DPA) strongly supports the Dunedin City Council's (DCC) Draft Local Alcohol Policy, viewing its adoption as crucial for creating a safer and healthier Ōtepoti Dunedin for all residents, especially disabled people. This support is underpinned by several key concerns specific to the disabled community. Firstly, disabled people are disproportionately at a higher risk of violence, including physical partner violence linked to alcohol consumption, with statistics indicating that 40% of disabled women and 47% of disabled men experience this. They also face greater overall victimisation and report lower perceptions of personal safety compared to their non-disabled counterparts.
 
Secondly, DPA highlights the direct experiences of disabled people in Dunedin and across New Zealand when encountering alcohol-intoxicated individuals. Dunedin members have reported instances of drunk people being micro-aggressive, causing anxiety and fright, particularly for wheelchair or mobility aid users who are sometimes asked, particularly by inebriated people if they "could ride on your wheelchair". The use of ableist slurs and harassment by intoxicated individuals also contributes to anxiety and offense for disabled people. One specific example detailed involves a wheelchair user being harassed in broad daylight by a drunken man insisting on unwanted help with loading their car.
 
Thirdly, the issue of property damage due to excessive alcohol use, such as the smashing of liquor bottles on streets and footpaths, poses a significant hazard. Disabled people who rely on mobility devices, including wheelchairs or scooters, are at greater risk of having their tyres punctured by broken glass, rendering their devices temporarily unusable, which can be a substantial inconvenience and even dangerous. While DPA acknowledges the DCC's efforts in cleaning up broken bottles, they anticipate that a stricter alcohol sales regime will help reduce the incidence of broken glass on city streets.
 
Finally, DPA notes that disabled people are also at a disproportionately higher risk of developing alcohol and drug-related addictions compared to non-disabled people. Overseas research suggests that despite many disabled people not drinking alcohol, those who do face a higher risk of addiction due to the stresses of living in a disabling society.

 
Key Recommendation/Finding:

DPA strongly supports the proposed policy because of the collective impacts of excessive alcohol consumption on disabled people.
 
Supporting Statement 1:

"Firstly, disabled people are disproportionately at higher risk of violence than non-disabled people and this includes violence stemming from alcohol use."
 
Supporting Statement 2:

"Thirdly, there are the issues of property damage caused by excessive alcohol use, in this case, the smashing of liquor bottles on streets and footpaths which is unfortunately a common occurrence."