MEDIA RELEASE

30 November 2002

Aucklanders support alcohol ban

Seventy-eight percent of Aucklanders support the introduction of the central city alcohol ban, according to a survey carried out by Auckland City Council.

The five-minute telephone survey asked 113 randomly selected respondents what they knew about the ban and measured their level of support. The survey was weighted to ensure it represented Auckland City’s population with respect to age, gender, ethnicity and employment.

Councillor Noelene Raffills, chair of the Law and Order Committee, says the results were extremely positive, with 70% of those asked strongly supporting the ban and a further 8% partially supporting its introduction. Only 1% strongly opposed it.

When asked why they supported the ban, the majority of respondents highlighted safety.

“People should not be drinking on the street.“ was one reply. “To keep Auckland’s central public places’ image clean and safe,” was another.

According to the survey results, Aucklanders are keen to see the alcohol ban extended to other parts of the city. Sixty-three percent of Aucklanders felt bans should be introduced in other areas such as central city beaches and parks, the Viaduct Harbour and Newmarket.

Aucklanders knowledge of the ban is also “outstanding”, says Councillor Raffills, with 82% of respondents indicating knowledge of the ban.

The ban, introduced on 26 September 2002, 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 morning.

“This is the first ban to be introduced in the city and it is extremely encouraging that it has the support of so many Aucklanders. The survey results match the anecdotal evidence the council has been receiving from the police on the ban’s success at reducing alcohol-related problems in the central city.”

She says other communities wishing to be included in any further ban extensions have already approached the council. “We are looking forward to further public debate on this important issue following the review of the central city ban in June 2003.”

ENDS

Ref: BV

This survey of 113 people was conducted by Telelink between Thursday 21 and Sunday 24 November.

It has been statistically weighted to be representative of the population of Auckland City with respect to age, gender, ethnicity (broad groups) and employment.

Q1. Are you aware of any changes Auckland City Council has recently made with regard to alcohol in the central city area?

Q2. What are the details of this change?
Some examples of responses include:
“Alcohol ban in Queen St at the weekends at night.”
“Alcohol ban.”
“Can't drink in a public places in the evenings and night time.”
“Ban on drinking in the central city at the weekends from 9pm till 6am.”
“Something to do with banning alcohol in public places.”
Q3. Recently, changes were made by Auckland City Council so that you can not drink alcohol in public places in the central city from 9 at night to 6 in the morning, from Thursday to Sunday. Until I just mentioned it, describe your knowledge of this…

Q4. “Thinking about the change, do you…”

Q5. Why is that?
Some examples of responses include:
“To keep Auckland's central public places image clean and safe.”
“Sick of seeing young people on TV making fools of themselves.”
“I'm a drinker and there's a place for drinking.”
“Only when excessive. But not out at the Domain at 9.10pm finishing a glass of wine. Would totally oppose it.”
“People should not be drinking on the street. They abuse people. The ban should be for the whole week.”
Q6. Can you think of any other areas where a ban may be useful?

Other areas include mention of specific suburbs and also:
“Sports grounds”
“Public functions”
“Train stations”
“Big events”

ENDS

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