Ms Evelyn Jones:

Our position on the voluntary code would be that voluntary regulation of the sale of alcohol is not adequate. We have always been in favour of the commencement of section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008.

That section should have been brought in in 2008 and now as we approach 2015, all we are being offered is a statutory code, with no sanction. The sanction for a breach of the code is that it may form the basis for an objection to the renewal of the licence. Legally, I do not see how they can bring in that statutory code. That is what is holding it up. It has been sitting in the Office of the Attorney General.