"Booze cruises" should be outlawed in the Waitaki district by introducing a bylaw banning open liquor containers in vehicles, the Waitaki Safer Community Trust says in a submission to the Waitaki District Council.
The suggestion is among 20 submissions on the council's review of its liquor ban bylaw.
The changes, and the overall concept of liquor bans, has drawn a mixed response, ranging from submissions saying there should be no bans to those who want tougher action.
The trust wants a ban on open alcohol containers in vehicles.
It wants a provision that all alcohol in vehicles in the Waitaki district be carried in the boot investigated and incorporated into the bylaw.
"Cruising and boozing has led to three deaths in the past two years in the Waitaki, where a total ban of this behaviour could be a deterrent to stop further deaths amongst our community, or even a tool for police to prevent a tragedy before it happens," the trust said.
The suggestion is supported by former Oamaru police sergeant Derek Beveridge, now a volunteer with Waitaki Guardians, which patrols streets in the town.
Mr Beveridge suggested the council take the bylaw further, by banning open bottles of alcohol in vehicles throughout the district.
"This would make it illegal for the current boozing and cruising to continue."
Most of the young people killed in car crashes in North Otago had been killed by intoxicated drivers on "the usual booze cruises".
Such a bylaw would create a first for New Zealand, and other councils would quickly follow.
He understood it was considered in 1988 when the Summary Offences Act was promulgated, but never made the final legislation.
At present, it is not against the law to drive with open alcohol containers in vehicles, except commercial vehicles for hire, such as buses.
Acting Sergeant Ross Lory, of Oamaru, said sitting in a car, in a liquor ban area, with open alcohol containers breached the liquor ban bylaw, and people had been prosecuted for that.
"To my knowledge, there is no law against driving and having open alcohol in a car," he said.
If the council decided to make that part of its bylaw, police officers would be able to enforce it in the same way as the liquor ban.
"It would be quite good - it would stop carloads driving around the countryside drinking - boozing and cruising," he said.
The council will hear submissions and consider the proposed changes at its meeting on Tuesday.
It proposes to formally adopt the bylaw at a meeting on November 24, so it will be in place before Christmas.
