Temporary liquor bans will be enforced at Otematata and Omarama over the Christmas holidays for the second year running.
Bans will now be in place at Otematata between December 25 and January 2, and at Omarama between December 26 and January 2.
Further bans will also be enforced at Otematata over Labour Weekend and Easter weekend, after the Waitaki District Council yesterday agreed to support a proposal put forward by the Ahuriri Community Board to enforce the bans for another year.
Ahuriri ward Cr Craig Dawson welcomed the decision and said the temporary bans enacted last Christmas had resulted in a "huge turn around" in anti-social behaviour.
He added that police were also fully supportive of the liquor bans.
"The police suggested this as the issue we have over this period is vandalism."
Senior constable Jason McCoy confirmed that the liquor bans had been working well, and welcomed their return.
"The liquor bans are a feature that assists in reducing alcohol-related crime in the community. Having the liquor ban there helps. It certainly helps remove those people that are out in the townships drinking open cans of alcohol."
He said with the bans there was less disorder associated with drinking and a reduction in the amount of broken glass in the streets.
Waitaki District Council community safety officer Helen Algar said given the success of the bans last year, it was "reasonable" to have them in place again.
"The ban reduced potential for drunk and disorderly behaviour, littering, violence and other anti-social offences."
