Liquor policing too harsh - holidaymakers

Angela Da Silva says more liquor ban signs should be around Whangamata to warn people against drinking in public. Photo / James Ihaka

The policing of a liquor ban in Whangamata has come under fire from holidaymakers who say the zero-tolerance approach is too heavy-handed and lacks common sense.

But police say their strict methods have brought stability to the popular seaside township, once notorious for its boozy New Year revelry.

Producer's assistant Angela da Silva said she and her mother Susan watched in horror as a group of teenagers were thrown into a paddy wagon for an alleged breach of the town's liquor ban at the Beach Rd Reserve in Whangamata.

They believe the incident was an overreaction and police should use discretion and common sense.

"They were minding their own business, they were quiet and weren't causing any trouble and then all of a sudden you have police showing up in stab-proof vests and paddy wagons," said Ms da Silva.

"They then rummaged through their vans and must have found a bit of booze and before they knew it they had all been arrested.

"These kids would have spent a night in the cells, will have a fine, a record and will probably end up hating the police, for what?"

Ms da Silva said shops were advising their customers to keep their receipts after buying alcohol so police would not confiscate their drinks - this was later confirmed when the Herald visited a couple of shops in Whangamata, although staff could not comment on the record.

Another who thought the approach to policing the liquor laws was "pretty harsh" was former detective sergeant Simon Friar who used to police Whangamata during the 1970s and 80s over the New Year period.

Mr Friar said he knew of a 75-year-old man who was arrested for carrying some whisky to a mate's house a few doors down the street to celebrate the New Year.

On another occasion, he said a man was arrested for drinking a beer while leaning on a fence. "The officer told him he was on public property and arrested him," said Mr Friar.

"Things needed to happen to bring things under control obviously with ... the problems there used to be here.

"But to enforce policing to the degree it was done here it sort of leaves you with a bad feeling."

Ms da Silva believed more liquor ban signs should be around the township to remind holidaymakers of the laws. But Inspector John Kelly said the current method of policing the town's liquor ban was no different to the previous eight years he has policed the area over the New Year period.

He said the ban had made a significant difference in the behaviour of people who came to the town although the bulk of the 160 arrests police had made over the past three days had been for breaches of the liquor ban.

Whangamata's liquor ban encompasses any public place.

"We have a vigorous enforcement of the liquor ban and there's a zero-tolerance ban with regards to the liquor laws," he said.

"If you buy it at a shop and take it to your mate's place for a barbecue you won't be arrested - as long as it remains unopened on your way there.

"You cannot consume alcohol in any public place and that includes your car as well.

"If you go from the booze shop down to the beach and have an open box of beer you will be arrested."