Perth liquor merchant, Cleanskin Cellars, is hoping more liberal liquor licencing laws will allow it to open an new outlet in the Malaga Markets, after fighting a three-year legal battle over one of its existing stores.
Cleanskin’s expansion plans have been opposed by the Liquor Stores Association of WA, which has sought to protect the interests of its existing members.
Cleanskin Cellars founders Marie and Steve Cloughley are pinning their hopes on the new liquor licensing laws, which excludes entities with an economic interest – such as existing liquor stores – from objecting to a licence application.
Mr Cloughley told WA Business News his cleanskins-only stores targetted a niche market and were very different from what previously existed in WA.
“The national Liquor Store Association pushes independent liquor stores to specialise their activity to survive against the big chains,” Mrs Cloughley said.
“But its WA counterpart is actually fighting against that.”
With the new liquor laws, LSA WA executive director, Lindsay James, said the association would no longer be able to object to a licence application.
“I haven’t seen the application but I wouldn’t think that we could object, considering the changes in liquor licensing laws” Mr James told WA Business News.
Mrs Cloughley said she and her partner had been in touch with the Malaga Markets for at least three years, but the project was held up until the recent introduction of the new liquor licensing laws.
“We never would have applied for another license under the old laws.” Mr Cloughley said.
The couple opened their first cleanskin store, Subi Cleanskins, four years ago with the condition that they could only sell wine in unbranded wine bottles, or cleanskins.
Claremont Cleanskins was opened the following year and was granted a licence based on the same terms, but this time around the Liquor Stores Association of WA appealed the decision, claiming that Cleanskin Cellars represented a threat for the liquor store industry.
Three years and $500,000 in legal and consultants’ fees later, the court case is ongoing.
Mr and Mrs Cloughley appeared in the Supreme Court of Appeal earlier this month and are expecting a final decision in the next couple of months.
Cleanskin Cellars was also refused a liquor licence for a proposed Victoria Park store last year.
The new liquor licencing laws include a package of reforms, including a new category of small bar licences and allowing restaurants to serve alcohol without a meal.
