Liqour ban praise

Christchurch’s new liquor-ban bylaw has attracted high praise from Police and the business community.

The bylaw, now in place, prohibits drinking in public places within the four avenues, and in part of South Christchurch, stretching down Colombo St to the foot of the Port Hills.

Sumner Esplanade is also an alcohol-free zone between 7pm Thursday and 7pm Sunday.

Spencer Park is off limits to drinkers on New Year’s Eve.

Christchurch City Beat Unit senior sergeant Colin Campbell says the bylaw has been very successful for the central city and he has heard no criticism of it.

“Praise has come from businesses, where owners are finding much less broken glass and litter. We just aren’t finding people drunk in shop doorways like we used to. The hotels too have welcomed the ban,” senior sergeant Campbell says.

He has also noticed a change in the drinking psyche of Christchurch. “The staunch young man walking down Colombo St drinking out of a beer bottle has gone.”

One of the main reasons Police wanted the central city liquor ban to be extended to all times was the amount of alcohol-related crime being committed.

“The liquor ban now allows us to deal with problems before they get a chance to escalate. The worst case, to give you an idea of the seriousness of the problem, was when we dealt with one car down in Colombo St that had two 50 litre kegs of beer in the back, with hoses attached. They were just about to drink 100 litres of beer, which can only spell trouble.”

Prior to the ban being extended, Christchurch Police had other problems related to loopholes in the law. There were occasions, senior sergeant Campbell says, when people were still able to consume alcohol and become a nuisance.

“Quite often there were people drinking around the liquor-bans and getting drunk. There was still a lot of disorder early on Thursday mornings, and there were still a lot of people coming out of the pubs at 8am in the morning, who were drunk but weren’t in breach of the liquor ban.

“Sumner Esplanade has been a problem with local residents for years. Given time, and people frequenting the area are educated, I think it will work well in Sumner.”

About 200 people have been arrested for breaching liquor bans in Christchurch since the original ban was introduced in late 2002.

A $500 fine from the District Court and a charge of breaching the local bylaw can be handed down to those disregarding the liquor ban rules.

“When we have arrested people for breaching the liquor ban, generally it’s only been after they have been previously warned.

At the moment we are saying to people that if we catch you drinking again, you will be arrested.”