Boxing Day races ban BYO alcohol

A woman drinks champagne during the Boxing Day races at Ellerslie Racecourse. Photo / Martin Sykes.

Another large public event has tightened its alcohol policy after a several booze-fuelled incidents in Auckland.

This year, for the first time, Boxing Day punters at Ellerslie Racecourse will not be allowed to take their own alcohol to the course.

Auckland Racing Club chief executive Chris Weaver said the event was simply coming into line with other major public events. "It would have been one of the last major public events that you could bring alcohol to."

Mr Weaver said there was no single incident that brought about the change, but all it took was one or two people in a big crowd to ruin it for everyone else.

"You'd have to be living on another planet not to know that alcohol has been an issue in Auckland over the past year."

The move to stop BYO alcohol was pre-empting any trouble and about being as responsible a host as they could be, he said.

A problem with BYO was that it was difficult to monitor the amount of alcohol people were drinking.

"We take our host responsibility very seriously," he said.

Racing authorities had met police and the Liquor Licensing Authority in recent months, while planning for this year's event.

Mr Weaver said that despite the tighter liquor policy, the infield area would be better than ever.

It would be fully licensed and supervised, with themed bars.

Racegoers could expect a beach in the entertainment zone with sand for a beach cricket tournament, top New Zealand bands, a barbecue area and food stalls.

He said people could still bring their own picnic, barbecue, tent and umbrella, as long as they could carry it from their car. Infield car parking would be in a separate area to the infield entertainment zone.

Professor Doug Sellman, from the National Addiction Centre, said it was an excellent move.

"This is the type of leadership we'd like the Government to take."

He expected fewer problems as a result of the change. "I totally support it and congratulate them for doing it.

"It's decreasing the amount people will drink and the less people will drink, the less aggression you'll get."

The most high-profile crackdown on booze this year came after problems at Eden Park during a rugby league test series.

Fans fighting, throwing plastic bottles on to the field and booing the Australian national anthem at the November 7 matches left some people vowing never to return to Eden Park.

Stadium officials and neighbours agreed one of the biggest issues was the liquor ban in surrounding streets and the lack of awareness of it.

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