Thirsty rugby fans in for a shock

Photo / Babiche Martens

Rugby World Cup patrons can expect to pay up to $17 for a glass of wine in restaurants around Eden Park, but industry heads say no one is getting ripped off.

Some common white wine brands cost more than $15 a glass in Mt Eden and Kingsland bars and restaurants, despite retailing at the same price per bottle in nearby supermarkets and liquor stores. Bar managers defend the prices. They say that patrons are paying for far more than the wine.

The Dominion's manager Jessica Griffin said $17 paid for a large glass (250ml) of high-quality wine as well as service and the other costs of running a restaurant.

"People can get a $7.50 house wine if they like. But $17 is for a good, large wine, as well as the atmosphere of being in a bar. That is not too much to pay."

In Kingsland, prices ranged from $7.50 to $16 for a glass of New Zealand-made sauvignon blanc.

The Kingslander's duty manager Alex Carey said customers were naive if they expected supermarket prices in a bar.

"Eight dollars for a house wine is acceptable. Anyone who argues with that does not go out often. We would probably get more complaints about beer prices."

Customers yesterday had different views about the price of alcohol.

French tourist Marie Henry said she was used to paying $6 a glass for a good quality wine at home.

"I don't think $10 glasses will put people off New Zealand. But it makes you think twice about eating and drinking out, for more than one night a week."

Some patrons baulked at the idea of paying "double digits or more" for a glass of wine while others were happy to pay that much if the wine was a good vintage.

Hospitality Association chief Bruce Robertson did not believe customers were being charged too much.

He said the prices in the supermarket were a "significant constraint" on what bar owners could charge their customers.

"If the price is too high, rather than go to a bar on the way to Eden Park, people will drink at home - it is self-regulating."

Mr Robertson said bars were still operating in difficult trading conditions after the economic downturn.

He said there was no indication that bars would raise their prices during the World Cup, though if extra staff were required it was a possibility.

Managers in Mt Eden said prices had reached a ceiling after the GST rise in October, and it was unlikely they would hike wine costs for the tournament.

Columnist Peter Bills sparked an argument about prices for everyday items in July after being charged $28 for two glasses of sauvignon blanc. He said New Zealand was in danger of acquiring an unwanted reputation for exorbitant prices during the World Cup.