Organisers are warning next January's Blues, Brews & BBQs in Mount Maunganui may be the event's last hurrah.
Traditionally scheduled for a Thursday evening, next year's festival will be held during daylight hours on a Saturday, while ticket numbers have been slashed from 10,000 to 8000.
Simon Hodgson, spokesman for the TaurangaRound Table organising committee, said the event had become more complicated and expensive to organise as they took heed of police's attempts to achieve greater control over the sale and consumption of alcohol.
At this year's festival, police arrested 19 people on a variety of charges in and around the event, including disorderly behaviour and aggravated assault.
Fourteen people were charged with drink-driving after leaving the festival.
At the time, Tauranga police Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair said this type of festival was "completely out of line with police efforts to curb the binge-drinking culture, which creates harm in the community".
He would not comment last week.
Discussions between Tauranga City Council, police and event organisers since have led to next year's event at Blake Park having a different flavour to those of the previous 15 years.
Other changes include more security on site, three stages instead of one and each of the stall holders being required to hold their own special liquor licence. The licences cost $64.40, half of which will be paid for by the stall holder and the other by organisers.
The variety of food has also expanded, with a number of new caterers signing up.
"We are a volunteer group raising funds for community groups, charities and youth activities. If the return from the time and effort, and of course cost investment is not there, we will need to seriously consider whether or not the festival continues," Mr Hodgson said.
He said the festival continued to be positioned as a celebration of craft and premium ales.
Mr Hodgson said he expected the shifting of the festival to a Saturday to increase demand.
"We fully expect a sell-out."
Tickets to Blues, Brews & BBQs will be available on Wednesday for $25 from branches of ANZ bank. OUR VIEW - editorial
