Celebrating the start of summer with a day of hardcore public binge drinking could soon be outlawed in Queenstown.
Queenstown Lakes District Council is proposing a bylaw effectively banning ``Crate Day'' - a nationwide drinking day on the first Saturday in December.
It was introduced to New Zealand as a promotion by The Rock radio station nine years ago this December and has since taken on a life of its own.
On Thursday, district councillors will vote on a recommendation to replace the current district alcohol ban bylaw 2014 with a 2018 version. The proposal would then go out for public consultation.
It specifically bans drinking outdoors in the district's town centres and some other public areas on ``National Crate Day (or any other similar event or promotion)''.
Drinking in licensed premises and at home would still be allowed.
It also proposes extending the existing year-round 10pm-8am street and public area drinking ban by two hours, beginning instead at 8pm.
``The district is facing issues relating to the consumption of alcohol in public places,'' the council's statement of proposal reads.
``In particular, there have been issues during the National Crate Day event.
``Police have noticed an uplift in the numbers of people congregating in public places in the district to consume large amounts of alcohol.
``This has caused issues of disorder and placed a strain on police resources.''
The unofficial goal of Crate Day is to drink a crate of beer, or at least share one with friends.
Council officers have also observed a ``significant'' amount of litter after the celebrations.
This included in Village Green in 2016. Photos of people celebrating, all good-natured, were published around the world. The celebration led to calls for a ban from various quarters, including from Steve Wilde, general manager of lobby group Downtown QT.
Last year, the council used its powers under the existing bylaw to ban public drinking in certain areas for 48 hours surrounding Crate Day.
The proposal states if the status quo is maintained ``... the police will be powerless to prevent day-time alcohol consumption in public on the weekend of National Crate Day ...''.
``The police will only be able to intervene where disorderly or criminal conduct is observed, and may have difficulty controlling a large crowd of intoxicated persons.
``There is likely to be an increase in public disorder, including littering, and [it] may cause some members of the public to feel unsafe.''
Another option is a total public drinking ban across the district, but this is seen as too draconian and there is little evidence such a ban is necessary.
The proposed ban is ``not inconsistent'' with the New Zealand Bill of Rights 1980, said the report.
Public submissions on the bylaw must be received by Sunday, August 26. Hearings will be held on the week of September 10-14. The council will consider the outcome by October 25, with the public notified of the decision on October 27.
The existing bylaw, and the 2018 version, has a `booze ban' covering December 27 to January 6 and during the resort's Winter Festival.
