Council approves alcohol-free public places
Friday 30 November 2012
A temporary liquor ban in public places was approved at a full Council meeting yesterday.
This means public spaces in urban areas from Paekākāriki to Waikanae will become alcohol free from mid-December until mid-May 2013 (from 9pm to 6am every day).
The temporary ban was initiated by Police and has support from many individuals and businesses in the community. It will enable Police to confiscate alcohol from people misusing it in public places and, if necessary, arrest offenders.
“As we all know, there have been some horrific incidences involving alcohol and violence of late,” says Councillor Tony Lester.
“This ban is about early intervention so the risk of alcohol-related offending is minimised. Police will use their discretionary powers, so won’t be targeting people having a quiet wine or beer with their fish and chips by the beach.”
“It’s more about stopping unruly groups potentially getting out of control and causing themselves, and other people or property, damage.”
The effectiveness of the ban will be evaluated throughout the five-month period and feedback will be used to draft a new bylaw proposing that the alcohol-free zone becomes permanent.
The proposal for a new bylaw is expected to go before Council in March 2013. Public consultation will then take place before a final decision is made.