Drinkers will have to stick to the rules

Police and council officers will be keeping a close eye on holiday-makers at resorts and beaches this weekend.

BAY OF PLENTY

Well-established year-round liquor bans are in force for Mt Maunganui town, Marine Parade and the foreshore from Thursday to Sunday between noon and 6am.

In Tauranga, the permanent alcohol prohibition covers the central business district and The Strand.

Bringing liquor into those areas is an offence liable for a fine of up to $20,000.

"Merely being in possession of alcohol is a no-no," said Sergeant Chris Summerville.

Whakatane, which is also expecting an influx of visitors for the long weekend, has big signs declaring where liquor bans apply. But they are constantly being "souvenired".

"We put up the signs but they get taken down all the time," said district council administration officer Coral Hair. "It is an ongoing problem for us."

Downtown Whakatane, the Heads and some reserves had permanent liquor bans, as did outlying Eastern Bay of Plenty towns.

These applied from 6pm on Thursdays to 6am on Fridays, the same times overnight on Saturdays and Sundays, and from 12 noon on Sundays to midnight.

Over the hill at Ohope, allowances are made for people picnicking on the beach to have a drink with their dinner. The ban there is from 9pm to 6am every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 9pm to midnight on Sunday.

Blanket 24-hour bans apply from Christmas Eve until midnight on January 5.

TAUPO/ROTORUA

Residents and visitors to Taupo will be able to skull their beer and click their champagne glasses almost everywhere, including the lakefront.

Taupo District Council community services manager Carole Parker said problems with alcohol were not a big issue in Taupo.

"There are plans to introduce a bylaw in and around the town centre, but not until November."

In Rotorua, people have been restricted to their own homes and to premises licensed to serve alcohol.

WAIKATO, THAMES-COROMANDEL

A widespread ban has been applied to all town centres and reserves throughout the Thames-Coromandel district beginning at 4pm today and ending at 4pm on Monday.

Hikuwai, which hosts a festival this weekend, has been exempted from that ban.

Thames-Coromandel District Council spokesman Peter Hazael said drinking in public had never been a problem at Labour Weekend.

"The New Year break poses more of a problem for us, so we're not expecting any major issues."

In Hamilton, posters around the city advise the public of the restrictions.

"We already have a permanent ban in Hamilton city, but when long weekends like this come we like to send out reminders," said the council's central city safety manager, Aylene McKenzie.

AUCKLAND CITY

Drinking and carrying opened bottles is illegal at Mission Bay from 10pm to 6am, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The popular beach was included in this week's extension of the ban on drinking in public places in the city.

A central city ban was introduced in September 2002 to help the police deal with drunken behaviour, mainly at Viaduct Harbour.

This has been stretched to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

New bans on night drinking at Mission Bay and large shopping centres were in response to community and police concerns, said Auckland City Council community manager Mark Vinall.

The ban included having alcohol or drinking it in vehicles but allowed carrying unopened bottles promptly through an alcohol ban area.

MANUKAU CITY

The city council has declared Bucklands Beach and Eastern Beach alcohol-free areas for 24 hours, seven days a week.

Alcohol is also banned for the whole of Labour Weekend at Maraetai, Beachlands, Cockle Bay and Mellons Bay.

WAITAKERE CITY

On Auckland's west coast, drinking has been banned in Piha's public areas as a result of residents' concerns at behaviour in past Labour Weekends.

The ban operates from Friday to Monday from 5pm to 5am daily.

It includes beach and reserve car parks.