Mount Maunganui bars and restaurants could soon be able to extend their opening hours under a controversial plan to stop revellers driving to Tauranga to continue drinking.
Western Bay and Tauranga City councillors met yesterday to decide on the alcohol licensing restrictions to go into the Western Bay's draft local alcohol policy.
Councillors agreed to allow bars, taverns, restaurants, nightclubs and hotels throughout the Western Bay to be open as late as 3am. A one-way door policy would be in place from 2am meaning no new customers could enter the bar for the last hour.
Mount Maunganui bars and restaurants are only licensed to remain open until 1am while those in Tauranga can stay open until 3am.
The hospitality industry has welcomed the plan but Stuart Caldwell, manager of Get Smart - a Tauranga-based counselling service for young people struggling with drug and alcohol issues - said extending opening hours would not solve the problem.