Hard evidence needed to keep liquor ban

NZ Herald 8 July 2015
Auckland communities are being asked to come up with hard evidence to support a battle to keep 1200 liquor bans on beaches, neighbourhood parks and playgrounds.

Recent law changes mean that from October 31 alcohol bans can only be used where there is evidence of high levels of alcohol-related harm – before and since the bans were brought in.

Previously, councils could impose blanket bans on all parks if there had been problems in a few of them.

The change has caused 15 local boards to take stock of all bans in their areas.

Its plight has drawn support from Family First NZ national director Bob McCoskrie.

“It should not be up to local residents to have to police and monitor unruly or drunken behaviour in order to prove that public parks should be alcohol-free.”

He said alcohol bans in playgrounds and residential reserves prevented offensive behaviour associated with intoxication from being seen as normal.
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