Shock as new bar makes 'last drink' list

Dumbfounded - that was Jason McCarthy's reaction to the shock news that his downtown Tauranga bar had made the top 50 New Zealand bars for the police's "last drink" survey.
The Bahama Hut owner is at a loss to understand how his bar, which opened only three months ago, is number 50 on a national list in which people who commit crimes under the influence of alcohol were asked where they had their last drink.
"You can't tell me I am one of the worst in the country," he said.
The Tauranga Boys' College old boy said his security staff were vigilant about who they let in and he even employed Hamilton bouncers on the door so there was no bias caused by local bouncers knowing local people.
It was no comfort to him that six other Tauranga bars scored worse than the Bahama Hut, with neighbouring bars, the Temple Bar at Illuminati and Grumpy Mole Saloon, scoring first and fourth respectively.
"I don't want to feature in the top 500, let alone the top 50. I will do anything I can within reason to bring it down."
He tends to agree with Illuminati owner Glen Meikle that Tauranga police were doing a better job in asking offenders the question - where did you have your last drink?
With five years' experience at the old Bahama Hut in Hamilton before returning to re-open the bar in his home town, Mr McCarthy was struck by how better behaved people were in Tauranga.
"As soon as I arrived in Hamilton I was taken aback by how fast fights took off. People were a lot more violent. It took time to get used to."
Since arriving back here he has noticed how people were a lot more relaxed. For instance, if his security refused someone admission, the person did not cause trouble as often happened in Hamilton.
"People here are a lot more laid-back."
Compared with Hamilton, he had not even seen anything more than a few scuffles on the street after closing time at 3am since he opened. He would consider leaving some of his security staff on the street for half an hour if it helped the crowds disperse quicker.
Tauranga's better mood also seemed to be reflected by the police who came into his bar on Thursday and Saturday nights, mainly looking for intoxicated people.
"The cops are a lot friendlier than in Hamilton," Mr McCarthy said.
It took him three years to build up a rapport with Hamilton police but here it happened almost straight away.
As for his own operation, after being dumbfounded by seeing the Bahama Hut featured in the news this week, Mr McCarthy has arranged a meeting with police to see how he could improve his operation.
He already has four bouncers inside the bar on Thursday and Saturday nights and three or four on the door. There have been no arrests inside the Bahama Hut and no fights - just a couple of scuffles.
"As soon as something even looks like it is going to come to anything, we break it up."
Mr McCarthy said the police and the council controlled the fate of bar owners and he was more than happy to work with the police.
"They seem pretty reasonable."