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Posted at 11:43AM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

I don't think restrictive practices and deliberately inconveniencing people are the way to reduce alcohol abuse. True pissheads will always find a way to get booze, whether it's stockpiling, homebrew, or informal trading. The state fails hugely at suppressing weed, after all.

What should be banned is the practice of supermarkets refusing to supply trade. If they want to sell $6.99 bottles of chardonnay or 20c cans of beans, a grocery store owner should be allowed to walk into the store and buy cases of the stuff. Not supplying trade is a restrictive practice (UK supermarkets happily supply trade for the most part and will even do special orders and so forth).

Posted at 11:43AM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Why feel the shame? It's not so much the sustenance from his daughter's mouth you would have been brandishing as that of one of his soon to be former employee's. Essentially you'd be giving him a fairer indication of what really goes on and better competitive grasp of market realities, which I guess you are doing writing about this here...

Posted at 11:46AM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Ah, the supermarket guilt. Know it well. Everytime I buy the family sausages at New World, I feel the loss for the West Lynn Organic Butchers (across the road from the excellent Wine Vault) and remind myself that I'll get there next time.

Righto, make that this weekend. I'd hate to see those local stalwart businesses disappear - they're some of the best things about living where I do and put the capital C in 'My Community'.

Posted at 11:48AM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

In agreement with Rich, people here have pretty much unrestricted access to $2 57% spirits without turning into a nation of pissheads. Capitalism is too restricted in New Zealand wherever you look, and the alcohol issues in New Zealand are nothing to do with price or availability and solely the result of socialization.

Posted at 11:51AM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Ah, the ever-helpful "Rob's Recommendations" of "cheap quaffers" from the Wine Vault. I know them well. Those worthy men are drinkers' friends.

Posted at 11:52AM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Question is, is there a connection between the penchant for supermarket guilt and chronic binge drinking?

Posted at 11:59AM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

The state fails hugely at suppressing weed, after all.

You'll find there's no real intention to suppress weed. it's set up as the borderline/no man's land between legal and illegal drug use. Hence possession largely usually just being punished with confiscation.

Posted at 11:59AM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

well - I support an online Wine company - Advintage - as a good provider of some good deals on wine that is not usually available in the supermarket. Also living in Mangere - well the local liquor stores are just that, liquor stores and drinkable wine isn't really an option, so Foodtown it is for the quaffing stuff. The nearest local would be Don Johnson's place in Royal Oak, and again a good retailer making lots of effort. Wine shops are the same as private bookshops, meat shops, delis, they provide the choice and range not usually available in the chain shops.
Long may they prosper and long may I be financially able to contribute to this.

Posted at 12:00PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

There's something a little bit cosy and comforting about this whole global recession hoopla. A feeling that we're all in this together and if somebody looked like they're sinking we'll try and all pull them up together. (I'm sure there's an army of naysayers and number crunchers who can calculate the exact amont of rose-tinted bollocks that sentence contains. But, hey, it's looking on the bright side, even just the perceived bright side).
Buying less stuff, but trying to by better quality stuff from local indie shops provides a dual feelgood factor 1) it's more of a treat, 2) you're doing your bit to help the store owners pay their bills. Of course here is Dunedin you're hard pressed to find many independent stores now. Jonathan's Cameras is gone; we're still bitter about the whole Echo-Real Groovy-zilch record shop situation and besides Plume, chain clothing stores dominate the main street.
There are a couple of great wine shops though, and I'm trying to not buy any grog from the supermarkets now in favour of these guys. When I'm in town i go to 26 Moray (at 26 Moray Place - go figure) and in the weekends, when I'm in my home 'burb of Mornington I'll go to Darren at Castle McAdam wines in Mailer Street (lots of beers too). I love both these shops, those places where shopping is a pleasure not a chore.

Posted at 12:00PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Website looks good, and the store a very interesting one. It's amazing what you can get by simply saying to someone who's life is in wine "I liked xxx and kinda want something that is not like butter but has like weight and stuff". Hard to do on the web and I wonder if tasting notes need to split into "Know what you're doing" and "Know what you like - kinda".

We've taken to a case-purchase from Blackmarket or Fine Wine or funy-little-contacts for the nightly swill, a pop to La Vino at the end of the road for something a little more interesting (Glengarry's Ponse Rd is also very good), and the annual trip to the family hut in Central for a more serious top up. I shouldn't think Wine Vault guy necessarily expects all your purchases to be through him.

Posted at 12:01PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Essentially you'd be giving him a fairer indication of what really goes on and better competitive grasp of market realities, which I guess you are doing writing about this here...

I think he'd be fully appraised of market realities in his own line of business, Mark.

In the case of supermarkets, especially the ones in Grey Lynn, it's about fortnightly "wine sales" where they sell wine at a loss (even after screwing down the suppliers) in order to pull in customers for their other products, which are not so cheap.

It's absurd to talk about independent wine retailers competing on that basis. They need to do what Jayson does, and work on their strengths.

Posted at 12:02PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

I shouldn't think Wine Vault guy necessarily expects all your purchases to be through him.

Oh, of course not. It was just a funny situation.

Posted at 12:02PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

BTW, I forgot to give ups to Shalimar in Wellington, who have the worlds untidyest fridge but are open when other stores are shut!

Of course, the government wants to shut them down..

Posted at 12:03PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

My big problem with supermarket wines is that when I buy the 'same' thing in the same bottle with the same label in Safeway in California as I do here in Fresh Choice Dunedin I get something different - I understand that the Aussies have a wine glut and that they're probably blending tastes for particular local consumptions - but the least they could do would be to change the labels ....

I also miss '2 buck chuck' not because of it's 'wonderful taste' but because it makes wonderful cheap summer sangria

Posted at 12:05PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

work on their strengths.

fair enough.

I think he'd be fully appraised of market realities in his own line of business, Mark

so why hide?

Posted at 12:20PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Because they're humans, Mark, not just market actors. People get embarrassed irrationally. Sheesh.

Posted at 12:20PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

On a completely different tack in the world of small business, I'd like to mourn the passing of India Village restaurant in Morningside. They've always been fairly quiet, as being over the hill from Kingsland cuts out much of the cafe/rugby crowds, but made up for it with fantastic food at good prices and wonderful service into the bargain.

They're due to close their doors sometime this week, and will focus on a foodcourt store on K Road before hopefully reopening another restaurant somewhere in Central Auckland later in the year. Won't be the same as the charming local store though, and now I get a twinge of regret for not going more often. They'll be back with luck.

Posted at 12:23PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Not wanting to gloat, but in Welliington the excellent Moore Wilsons has a wondrous range of good things (yes, even cat food) at supermarket prices. And it's owned and operated by a local family. And they support local producers such as those from up the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa.

Posted at 12:25PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Because they're humans, Mark, not just market actors. People get embarrassed irrationally. Sheesh.

Yes. The situation amused me, and I went home and wrote a blog post on the strength of it.

Posted at 12:28PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Sometimes a cigar...

Posted at 12:29PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

India Village restaurant in Morningside

Is that the one in the small block of shops on the corner of Morningside and New North roads?

Posted at 12:34PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Not wanting to gloat, but in Welliington the excellent Moore Wilsons has a wondrous range of good things (yes, even cat food) at supermarket prices. And it's owned and operated by a local family. And they support local producers such as those from up the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa

I'm an Aucklander with a Moore Wilson wholesale card, and I'd dearly love that company to open a branch here. The fact that they have that Kapiti Coast and Wairarapa produce is a real strength, I think. And so many bakeries! There's nowhere in Auckland you have that choice. Nosh in Ponsonby is okay, but it's not the same.

OTOH, I can get meat and smallgoods cheaper (and generally better) at the Westmere butcher or Taste of Europe in Lincoln Rd, and fresher and cheaper veges at the La Cigale market (single supplier, very short supply chain). It's just not terribly efficient ...

Posted at 12:43PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Small independents of Wellington that I rate for the quality of their repartee as well as their product:
- Rumbles (wine)
- Wine Seeker (wine)
- Mandatory (clothes)
- Duncan & Prudence (clothes)
- Unity (books)
- Willis St Lunch Cafe, home of the Cheese Puff.

Sadly, it is only the last two I can afford to patronise on a regular basis.

Apropos local food, the Waitangi Park market on a Sunday has ever more stalls from small producers of smallgoods, baked goods, preserves, and what-have-you. It's nice to get stuff directly from the producer.

Posted at 12:45PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Is that the one in the small block of shops on the corner of Morningside and New North roads?

Yup. Used to be the Flying Rani - also known to fans of Leigh Hart's Moon TV as the set for "Naan Doctors".

Posted at 12:47PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

Mazaruns is my first port of call for quality port. There are very decent wineries in West Auckland and Te Kauwhata. Why go to a supermarket or wine shop?

Posted at 12:51PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

There aren't any good little wine shops anywhere near me, so I'll give big props to New World Birkenhead for having a bloody fantastic, ever-changing beer selection (La Trappe in the pottery bottles, anyone?) and Ashore in Birkenhead also keep a great selection of NZ beers in stock.

Posted at 1:09PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

At least you lot can get drinkable wine without taking out a bank loan.....I'd murder for a decent glass of pinot gris at a civilized price.......

Posted at 1:12PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

So maybe Princeton, NJ is a little far to go but The Corkscrew is one great wine shop. Laurent the owner is French and loves his rugby so much that after going back the shop after having left Princeton 2 years earlier the first thing he did was gloat about France beating the All Blacks in the World Cup Semi's.

Oh, and his wine knowledge is second to none (our whites are good, reds are s#$t).

Posted at 1:13PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

I think Glengarry still have the best range in the most places and they are competing on price with the supermarkets a bit now too. I went in and spotted a La Strada Pinot for $10.25 down from over $20 last week for example. And they've just re-launched their website last week as well. I go there for great quality wines and whisky. I quite like the fact that they don't sell cigarettes or Woodstock and their staff are knowledgable. For our company Xmas party we did a tasting in their cellar at the Jervois Rd store - great value. No charge for the space, just the product we were drinking and great nibbles delivered from Didas next door.
I buy inexpensive but great quaffing wine by the case from Liquor Box Wines - 0800 call4wine (2255494) or greg@liquorboxwine.co.nz. Their website will be up soon. I just got a case of Waiheke red for $100. We got a case of Cable Bay last year for $140 for example (about half price) - it's re-labelled but the corks said "Cable Bay". It's $67 a bottle at a restaurant!

Posted at 1:29PM on 7 May 09. Permalink.

- Willis St Lunch Cafe, home of the Cheese Puff.

Always interested in a new baked good, me, and always interested in a new vehicle for cheese. What are the points of similarity/difference between a cheese puff and a cheese drop scone?