Alcohol ban may extend

Dunedin's alcohol ban area looks set to grow and could in future be extended into the city’s student quarter, as a result of inner-city bars closing and legislation changes which have altered drinking habits.

The Dunedin City Council will today discuss an extension that would expand the ban area east to Cumberland St and west to Smith St, taking in View St, which has experienced alcohol-fuelled disorder in the last few years.

The "minor" extension will, for the first time, include inner-city car parks not owned by the council.

The council has also  said it will, at the request of police, prepare a report for next year considering a "more significant" extension into North Dunedin.

Mayor Dave Cull said last night there had been discussions on  extending the ban when there were problems in View St.

Early last year councillors voted in favour of a wider review of the areas covered by an alcohol ban, instead of starting a one-off process to expand the central-city liquor ban to include a notorious View St party flat. There was an out-of-control party around that time, in which a person fell from a first-floor window on to a noise control officer.

A report from district licensing committee secretary Kevin Mechen, prepared for a full council meeting today, said police had asked for the expansion to be considered.The bar closures and legislation changes meant changed drinking habits and "the subsequent shift of alcohol-related issues to areas outside the current restriction area".

The council was required under legislation to be satisfied there was evidence the area where alcohol was restricted under a bylaw had experienced "a high level of crime and disorder".

Maps showed reported offences occurring across the proposed area, and further north towards the student area.

Mr Mechen’s report said while the police acknowledged alcohol restrictions were not a panacea for alcohol-related harm, they were part of the answer.

The report noted new alcohol legislation would allow people who had taken alcohol to a restaurant, and not drunk it, to take it through the area of the ban, as long as it was sealed or resealed.

It foreshadowed a more extensive ban would be considered next year.

A report considering options for a greater extension of the alcohol ban area, and the inclusion of an area of North Dunedin, would be written for consideration next year.

The extension would be "more significant" and a special consultative procedure would apply.

Mr Cull said police reports were used to show evidence to support the ban.

"We use that as a basis.

"We wouldn’t be doing it if the police didn’t want it."

In 2013, councillors voted not to impose a liquor ban in North Dunedin, after hearing submissions, including those from students opposed to a ban Instead, it recommended the council concentrate on the "collaborative approach" being developed by stakeholders to address alcohol related issues.

Mr Cull said he understood incidents had increased since then.

The issue will be discussed in a public forum at the council meeting and then by councillors.

The report recommends they approve the minor extension, and note staff will report back on the expansion to North Dunedin.

david.loughrey@odt.co.nz