Liquor watchdog refuses Aldi plans to sell alcohol at NSW store over ‘health, crime’ fears

The state’s liquor watchdog has refused plans by Aldi to sell booze from a northern NSW outlet over fears it could cause ‘detrimental’ health and crime impacts. See what locals say.

Retail giant Aldi has been blocked from selling booze at its largest northern rivers supermarket over concerns it could cause “detrimental” impacts on the community.

Potential ramifications for alcohol related harm and abuse were flagged by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) as it refused plans by the German retailer to be allowed to sell bottles of alcohol at its Goonellabah outlet.

NSW Police and NSW Health also objected to the proposal due to potential impacts on the region’s rising rates of crime and alcohol-related abuse.

Aldi’s proposal for the store included setting aside a small 49 sqm section of the store to stock and display unrefrigerated alcohol products including beers, wines, spirits and ‘special buys’.

ILGA – in its decision to refuse the proposal – raised concerns over crime figures showing the Goonellabah region has higher-rates of alcohol-related assaults, domestic assaults, and malicious damage to property than the statewide average.

A photo of the store.

Alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations were also higher compared to the NSW average.

NSW Health – in a submission to ILGA – warned the sale of alcohol at the outlet could cause a “potential detrimental impact to a vulnerable community from the additional availability of alcohol”.

NSW Police meanwhile pointed to crime data that showed alcohol related crime has “significantly increased” across various crime categories between 2019 to 2023.

The liquor application has been refused by ILGA.

The refusal of the proposal may spark disappointment for 596 local residents who signed a petition in favour of being able to buy booze from the supermarket.

Aldi, in its plans for the liquor licence application, stated the sale of alcohol was aimed at meeting the “demands” of the growing local population.

“Only a limited range of liquor (is proposed to be) sold – principally ALDI branded products. Many of those products are award-winning products,” the company’s plans stated.

A store map showing, in blue, where Aldi wanted to sell alcohol.

Aldi’s plans also induced a pledge not to sell refrigerated liquor products which it stated would reduce the potential for booze to be immediately consumed in and around the supermarket.

“The granting of the application will result in substantial positive public benefits including : the convenience of a one-stop shop, need, choice and attracting new product lines,” the company added.

The decision comes after the store was previously granted a temporary licence to sell alcohol during 2022 following the Lismore floods that resulted in the nearby Aldi Lismore store – which has Liquor and Gaming approval to sell alcohol – having to be temporarily closed for repairs.

A photo of the supermarket.

Aldi stated the temporary sale of alcohol at the Goonellabah store had been “welcomed by customers”.

“Numerous requests have been received to continue to provide a liquor department, and many hundreds of customers have signed a petition in support of the granting of the application,” the company stated.

ILGA chair Caroline Lamb – in her written refusal of the proposal – stated the liquor proposal was “not in the public interest.”

“Alcohol-related assault rates for the Lismore LGA had been consistently above the NSW average over the last five years with a majority of those assaults occurring within private residences,” she said.

“In these circumstances, (ILGA) is concerned that if the licence is granted, there is a risk that liquor sold at or from the premises would lead to an increase in alcohol-related crime, health, and other social and amenity issues, worsening these problems.

“As a result of our concerns, (ILGA) cannot be satisfied that the overall social impact of granting the application will not be detrimental to the wellbeing of the local and broader community.”

Aldi has the option of lodging a formal review of the decision to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Aldi was contacted for further comment but did not respond at the time of publication.