A liquor license has objected to a charity fashion show supporting suicide prevention in Dunedin

She said there are no ads for alcohol sales and that they are simply an alternative to soft drinks. Free food was also available.

“(The event) is about my personal journey with mental health, eating disorders and a suicide attempt four years ago. I want to show people that they can get out of a dark place by showing them my journey.

She suggested that it is possible to change the name of the event.

The charity event aims to support the Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust, a local organization that works on mental health initiatives.

Vickery, who has publicly shared her struggles with mental health, hopes the event will “shine a light” on the efforts of those working in the mental health sector.

Vickery’s application states that alcohol will be served on a limited basis at the event, with sales at the bar ending 30 minutes before the end and a commitment to stop serving alcohol during the modeling runway.

Its plans to promote responsible alcohol consumption also include continued free food and free water.

However, both police and the licensing inspector raised concerns, citing concerns about the link between alcohol consumption and suicide.

They argue that granting a license would be contrary to Section 4 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, which mandates minimizing harm resulting from the consumption of alcohol.

Sergeant Steve Jones said the sale of alcohol to a suicide prevention charity and the consumption of alcohol at the event was “harmful and inappropriate”.

Police presented the latest research from the University of Otago which linked the death by suicide to acute alcohol consumption.

“The conclusions of this study showed that more than a quarter of all deaths were due to acute alcohol consumption.”

He said police spoke to the organizer about their concerns and options for a zero-alcohol event were discussed.

The licensing inspector found Vickery’s application to be of high quality and she seemed willing to address concerns raised by other agencies.

“Due to the known link between alcohol and suicide, the appropriateness of consuming alcohol during a suicide prevention fundraiser is being questioned. The intention of this event is commendable, but it is unclear why alcohol needs to be a part of the event at all, and the message that alcohol at such an event carries with it the wider community.”

Although the application was originally submitted electronically on October 4, authority records show it was not received until October 21, likely due to an electronic error.

With no objections raised by the medical officer of health, a decision will now be made following a short notice hearing on Friday, November 1, during which the District Licensing Committee will consider both sides and decide whether a license can be granted.

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Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald based in Dunedin.

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