Before a local alcohol policy can be adopted, which group must NOT be consulted?

In the process of adopting a local alcohol policy, it is crucial that various stakeholders are consulted to ensure that the policy is comprehensive and takes into account the views and needs of the community. The requirement to consult typically includes groups such as the police, licensing inspectors, and the public or local community.

Private businesses, while they may be affected by the alcohol policy, do not constitute a mandatory consultation group in the same way that the aforementioned entities do. Their input can be valuable, but they are not essential to the consultation process as defined by regulatory or policy-making guidelines. Therefore, the focus is often on public safety, community well-being, and adherence to existing laws, which is why the consultation with the police, licensing inspectors, and the public is prioritized over private business interests.

This highlights the importance of approaching policy development from a communal and regulatory perspective, rather than solely an economic one.