MEDIA RELEASE
3 July 2003

Alcohol bans endorsed

Auckland City Council’s City Development Committee today endorsed a recommendation that bylaws are the best method of introducing alcohol bans which address alcohol related issues in public places.

The Local Government Act 2002 includes a new bylaw making process, which Auckland City must follow should it wish to maintain existing or create new alcohol bans. The first stage of this process requires the council to decide that a bylaw is the most appropriate way of addressing the problem.

Chairperson of City Development Committee, Councillor Juliet Yates, says research has shown that alcohol bans are the only single strategy that effectively reduces public disorder and criminal offending linked to alcohol. However, the council‘s use of bans should be strengthened by the use of other strategies, such as public education, advocating for more police and implementation of the council’s Alcohol Strategy.

If the recommendation is approved at the full council meeting in July 2003, the proposed bylaw will be drafted and available for public consultation later in the year.

Chairperson of Auckland City Council’s Law and Order Committee, Councillor Noelene Raffills, says she is delighted with the committee’s decision. If the new bylaw is not undertaken, the current central city alcohol ban will expire in July 2004 and Auckland City will lose the ability to proactively assist the police in managing alcohol related problems.

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