Richard Hazeldine with a selection of the low-alcohol or alcohol-free drinks now on offer at Our Backyard Pub. Photo / Stephen Parker
A campaign has been launched in a bid to reduce a drop in patronage at local bars since the drink-drive limit was lowered last year.
Hospitality NZ BOP representative Dean Teddy said bars and restaurants had been hit hard by the law change, which saw the drink-drive limit lowered from 400mcg to 250mcg.
Punters had been "scared off" enjoying a social drink or two after work, he said.
Based on research from ESR, Hospitality New Zealand launched 'Know your limit' this week, with a rule of thumb guide for men and women - three standard drinks over two hours for men and two standard drinks over two hours for women.
Mr Teddy hoped the guide would help clear up confusion about the new limits.
"We are certainly not advising people that it's okay to drink and drive but it is okay to get out and enjoy a couple of drinks responsibly, preferably over a meal," he said.
Richard Hazeldine, owner of Our Backyard Pub and the chairman of the Rotorua Central Liquor Accord, said people were unaware how much they could drink and remain under the limit.
"We don't want to get people intoxicated. We are here to ensure that people have a good time when they are in our premises and when they leave our premises."
Mr Hazeldine said his pub had widened food options and put a lower alcohol beer on tap.
We've got four lower alcohol wines and there's a lower alcohol cider coming soon. We also have a big range of non-alcoholic drinks.
Mr Hazeldine said the law change had definitely affected business.
"People who used to come in after work and have two or three beers are now just having one."
Janina Khan, owner of the Kalah Bar in Ngongotaha, said some customers were too scared to have a drink or two before driving.
"It's affected the diners, not just the people who come in for a drink."
Miss Khan said her bar had lost customers because it was out of town.
However Gregg Brown, owner of the Pig & Whistle, said the same number of people were coming in, but there had been a change in what they were drinking.
"Quite a shift to mid-strength beer and new light beers. They are more concerned with it and now that they have settled into the new law they are becoming more comfortable."
Rotorua road policing manager/district youth and alcohol co-ordinator Inspector Kevin Taylor said it was hard to tell whether attitudes towards drinking and driving had changed.