Booze ban likely for next Christmas in the Park

The Christchurch City Council will consider a 24-hour alcohol ban at Hagley Park for events next year after a call was made to make a large family-friendly Christmas event alcohol-free.

Currently the wider Hagley Park area has an alcohol ban from 10pm to 7am, seven days a week.

However, members of the public were allowed to take alcohol to Christmas in the Park on November 30, which ended after 10pm.

• Assaults spark call to ban booze at family Xmas event

Under the Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Bylaw 2018, the city council has the power to impose temporary bans for large scale events at the park for a 24-hour period.

Last month, a mother, whose son was seriously injured during an assault after this year’s Christmas in the Park event, called for the event to be alcohol-free.

The same event in Auckland was alcohol-free this year.

Said city council head of strategic policy Emma Davis: “Between 2010 and 2018, the Christmas in the Park events went smoothly. When the council reviewed its alcohol restrictions bylaw in 2018, the police didn’t request any changes to the Hagley Park bylaw.

“However, given the issues at this year’s event, the council will take new advice from the police and consider placing a temporary 24-hour alcohol ban on Hagley Park for future events [Christmas in the Park]."