Police alcohol-harm prevention manager Senior Sergeant Fred van Duuren emphasised a liquor ban would remain in force in streets around the concert, which will feature Barry Gibb and Carole King.
Judge John Hole says in the decision the authority agrees with police that to include the carpark and holding areas in the special licence as "possible liquor abuse ramifications".
"Supplying alcohol in these circumstances, especially in unshaded areas possibly subject to a blazing Hawke's Bay sun, could cause tempers to fray and disorder to erupt," he said.
That would be less likely to occur inside the arena, he said.
Meanwhile, concertgoers have been put on notice that alcohol problems could lead to closure of the booths, rather than a reduction of serving limits.
Judge Hole said the "applicant" had said that if police required maximum serve limits to be reduced from four to two, liquor booths would be closed in an "orderly way," because as a "good employer" it would not put staff at risk of abuse from patrons.
