Police want Mount Maunganui's liquor ban extended beyond beach and downtown areas in an effort to stop the stream of people drinking in public.
Despite the well-publicised ban being in place for more than a year, police say that they are still frustrated by the number of people flouting the liquor bylaw at weekends.
Mount Maunganui Senior Sergeant Duncan MacLeod said he would push for council bylaws to ban drinking in more public places -- but would not confirm specific areas until consulting colleagues and the public.
Under the new Local Government Act, Tauranga District Council must review its liquor ban and make any changes by July 1. This will give police and the public an opportunity to comment on the bylaw, which will probably then be in place for five years.
Mr MacLeod said extending the reach of the ban would help cut trouble on Mount Maunganui's streets and reinforce the message that drinking in public places was unacceptable.
Public feedback to police also showed support for extending the ban, Mr MacLeod said.
Ten people were arrested for breaking the ban at Mount Maunganui during the Waitangi Day holiday weekend and 15 were arrested in Tauranga. Last Friday night, eight people were caught drinking in public.
Under liquor ban legislation, police have the power to stop and search people, seize alcohol and arrest offenders.
Liquor bans are in effect in Marine Parade and surrounding areas of Mount Maunganui, as well as The Strand and its streets near Tauranga's waterfront.
These areas are designated liquor-free from noon on Thursdays until 6am on Sundays.
Tauranga District Council licensing manager James Jefferson said the council would listen to what Mount Maunganui police had to say.
While Mount Maunganui police want to extend the area affected by the ban, central Tauranga police said they were happy with the present arrangement and were unlikely to seek any changes.
- NZPA
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