One-way policy seems to be working

The one-way policy in bars in Northland seems to be working.

A one-way door system at licensed premises has seen a drop in violence associated with late-night drinking in central Whangarei.

While police and Whangarei District Council have given a thumbs-up to the new system, bar owners say it is too early to gauge its success, although the signs looked promising.

The one-way door system came into effect on April 7 and is designed to reduce alcohol abuse and increase the safety of people in the CBD late at night.

Licensed premises in the central city, such as restaurants, taverns, clubs, bars and pubs, can stay open until 3am but must enforce the one-way door policy after 1am.

This means if patrons leave a licensed premises in the CBD after 1am, they cannot re-enter that premises, or any other licensed premises.

Whangarei and Kaipara police area prevention manager Senior Sergeant John Fagan said officers had noticed it was quiet in the CBD on Friday and Saturday nights.

He said once people left a bar between 1am and 3am they did not loiter on the streets, such as hanging around the wall along the Vine St carpark.

Taxi companies, he said, did not have to pick up a lot of people unlike before, when there was a rush to go home after licensed premises closed by 3am.

Police have not had any reports of licensees breaching the one-way door condition of their licence, he said.

"It's early days yet, but we see the one-way door policy as a positive move for Whangarei in preventing the issues we have faced with late-night drinking," Mr Fagan said.

Council spokeswoman Ann Midson also said there had been no reported breaches of the one-way door system by licensees.

Everybody seemed to be abiding by the system and regular feedback meetings with licensees took place to work through any issues that arose.

"Thus far, early feedback from at least some licensees are that the system is working well, is not as bad as initially thought and there seems to be general awareness and acceptance by patrons."

Des Wallace, director of Bacio on Bank St, said his business had small issues such as women not wanting to leave in case they would be left alone on the streets.

"The policy seems to be working at this stage but I think we'll have a better idea in, say, three months. It's a bit early at this stage."

Phil Sentch, owner of the Tote and Poke, and Rynoz on Cameron St and president of the Northland branch of Hospitality New Zealand, said it was hard to gauge the impact of the new policy as there had not been any increase or decrease in patrons.