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One step closer to a city-wide alcohol ban
The council is going to draft a by-law to ban drinking in public places.
But don't worry, respectable citizens! It's not aimed at you! It's aimed at pesky boozers.
Extending the liquor ban would mean we could deal with problems in the suburbs. It wouldn't be about stopping people having a quiet beer or a glass of wine on the beach or in the park - and the Police are already on the record as saying they would use discretion.
Another "x-ing while brown" offence in the making.
They break bottles, yell and swear, vomit and create chaos - but there's nothing the Police can really do at the moment about the drinking of alcohol - which is generally the cause of the problems.
This is a puzzler. If people are behaving badly, that's disorderly behaviour. If they're not, who cares whether they're drinking?
If only there were somewhere for hardcore street drinkers to go. Meanwhile, wasting police time on herding them around the city is apparently the only way out.
There's a Facebook group in opposition. Here's hoping that's just a start.
It's a puzzler alright. It struck me as complete bullshit when I heard it on the radio yesterday (Checkpoint, here, at 17:51... or streaming audio), and it still does.
I would like to hear a police response to these sort of claims.
Morning report story here at 07:53 (or you can download an ogg or mp3 file) with more questionable ranting and raving from members of the public.
Speaking of drinkers what happened to the photo of the guy sleeping it off outside the recovery room. Did the nanny state of Wellingtonista pull the story?
Don't worry, Cap'n. It's still there, just archived.
And techinically speaking, the Wellingtonista is more a drunk-babysitter state than a nanny state.
That all you've got to say? Lame... ;)
Already Covered.
As you say in your post, Disorderly Behaviour charges already cover the issue of trouble makers (drinking, drunken or otherwise) - Whether the trouble maker is a repeat or one-off offender.
Who Won't Stop Drinking in Public?
The trouble makers. The ones this blanket law would hope to target are precisely the ones who would ignore the ruling.
Who Will Stop Drinking in Public?
Law-abiding, socially responsible folk. So the ones who will be affected by a blanket law would instead be the ones who wouldn't have caused trouble anyhow.
That Council Quote
"It wouldn't be about stopping people having a quiet beer or a glass of wine on the beach or in the park - and the Police are already on the record as saying they would use discretion."
So, it's not a blanket issue with alcohol, it's an issue with behaviour. Plus 'discretion' and consistency on what constitutes a permissible public drink and what doesn't - sounds like a thorny area for police and the public - leading to a fall back onto Disorderly Behaviour focus anyhow.
Council Folk
Don't cut back on civil liberties over an issue which is already covered in the law. Target public behavioural issues with Disorderly Behaviour charges.
I'm all for it. I'm sick of seeing kids drinking all over the place and littering this fine city with beer bottles, puke, and broken glass.
Lol troll - I see you.
Stephen et al
I'm way behind the eight-ball re this debate - but I just make the point that the Council isn't mulling this whole city-wide ban idea just for a laugh and to wind up the population - it's entirely the result of pressure from some residents and retailers in Newtown who are sick of anti-social al-fresco boozing on their manor. They want a ban in Newtown and, because people in other parts of town are getting grumpy about the same 'issues' in their areas, we've decided to check out whether a city-wide ban is feasible and whether it will end the almost-yearly liquor ban debates we're having. Best advice for you is to jump in and have your say when the public consultation starts (I think) next month. We'll keep you up-to-date on dates, details etc etc etc.
cheers
Richard MacLean - WCC Communications
my big question to the council would be - is this a case of the squeeky wheel gets the grease?
It may well be - but there's nothing wrong with people standing up for their rights. If you want to have your say - then get involved.
cheers
Richard MacLean - WCC Communications
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