Public supportive of alcohol ban

Auckland’s inner city liquor ban has been well received by Auckland’s late night revellers.

Senior Sergeant William Taylor of Auckland City Police says the public’s response to Auckland’s first liquor ban has been extremely positive.

“Even people who were stopped by police for drinking on the street and asked to tip their alcohol out were generally supportive of the ban. By Saturday night more than half the people the police spoke to during the weekend were aware the ban and could see the reasons for it,” he says.

Four hundred and seventeen people were found drinking in public places in the ban area on Friday and Saturday nights and were asked by police to either leave the ban area or tip out their alcohol. Only eleven people were arrested for allegedly breaking the ban.

Senior Sergeant Taylor says all eleven had been asked by the police prior to their arrest to remove the alcohol from the ban area and had refused. “They basically left the police with no other option but to arrest,” he says.

Those arrested are expected to appear in the Auckland District Court later this week. The main thrust of the police activity over the weekend was education, he says. The police are taking a common sense approach to the ban. Arrests are a last resort.

Councillor Noelene Raffills, chair of the Council’s Law and Order Committee, says the council is delighted with the success of the ban.

It is part of Auckland City Council’s wider agenda to make the city a safer, healthier and more enjoyable place.

The liquor ban prohibits the drinking of alcohol in public places in the city centre from 9pm to 6am every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening through to Sunday mornings. The ban area will be extended to cover the Viaduct Harbour before the end of next month.

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