29 December 2004

Alcohol-free New Year’s Eve party launches SummerTimes

Everyone’s welcome to party into 2005 this Friday, when Cathedral Square hosts the Anthony Harper Lawyers New Year’s Eve Party.

It’s a free event staged by Christchurch City Council in association with Red Badge Group, starting at 9pm and featuring the Warratahs and the Bubblemen playing live. The party culminates in a five-minute fireworks display when the cathedral bells chime in the new year.

No liquor is allowed in the Square, Central City or the southern end of Colombo St as part of a year-round liquor ban. Drinking in public will also be banned this New Year’s Eve at Spencer Park and along Sumner Esplanade. The message from Christchurch City Council and Christchurch Police is to leave the alcohol at home if you’re heading to any of these popular New Year’s haunts across the city.

Terry Moody, the Council’s Environmental Health Policy Leader says the long-running New Year’s Eve liquor ban at Spencer Park now comes under the Council’s Liquor Ban Bylaw, making it easier to apply each year. “During consultation on the bylaw, Police told us that drinking related issues were a perennial problem at Spencer Park on New Year’s Eve. The aim of the bylaw in general was to assist in reducing crime related to drinking in public places and to improve perceptions of public safety,” he said.

The Spencer Park liquor ban covers all of the public parts of the Park on the southern side of Heyders Rd, starting at 71 Heyders Rd and continuing to the beach access. It includes car-parking areas. The ban will be in place from 8.30pm on 31 December until 6am on 1 January. The liquor ban covering Sumner Esplanade is in line with its existing ban in force from 7pm on Thursdays to 7pm on Sundays.

ENDS

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