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December, 2009 The Court of Appeal has rejected a bid by a group of Queenstown bars to trade after 4am.Four companies linked to Good Group Ltd had appealed against a Liquor Licensing Authority decision that backed the right of the Queenstown Lakes District Council to restrict trading hours. The Court of Appeal dismissed the legal challenge this month and ordered the four appellants to pay costs to the council. Good Group chief executive Russell Gray said he was disappointed at the decision. The group recognised there were liquor abuse issues in New Zealand but believed these were not correlated with the hours bars operated. In fact, a blanket 4am closing time exacerbated unsociable behaviour on the street, Mr Gray said. "We close the sports bar at 2.30pm and premium bars were staggered in closing at 3am, 4am and 5am. The Good Group board would decide whether to take the issue to the Supreme Court. More than $100,000 had been spent on the legal challenge already. Queenstown Lakes Mayor Clive Geddes said the Court of Appeal decision provided "absolute clarity" about the role of local government and the Liquor Licensing Authority in making decisions about liquor retailing. "I think it will be welcomed by councils and liquor licensing agencies all over New Zealand." Source: The Southland Times
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