'Hick town' booze laws infuriate bar owners

By HAMISH RUTHERFORD in Whakatane and KELLY BLANCHARD in Rotorua
Bar owners in Rotorua and Whakatane are fuming at what they claim are over-zealous attempts by the police to crack down on inner-city disorder.

While police in both towns are delighted with the success of central city liquor bans, bar owners claim new rules are making the region a laughing stock.

They claim a crackdown on drinking at outdoor tables has upset visitors over the summer period.

They also claim it makes it harder to enforce new smokefree laws, which came into effect in December.

Since July last year, bar patrons in Whakatane have not been allowed to drink at outdoor tables after 10pm.

Drinking used to be allowed until 2am.

Applications for special licences during the Christmas/New Year period were declined.

The issue reached a head this week, when several bar managers walked out of a regular meeting with police, after acting Eastern Bay area commander Bruce Jenkins refused to reconsider the licence restrictions.

Sheryl Hanright, owner of Where Else, said many of the problems on The Strand were caused by people who did not drink at the bars. "If some of the Mongrel Mob are hanging around the Information Centre ... suddenly that's my problem?"



The liquor ban was introduced in 2002 with bar owners' support, but many owners now believed it had backfired, she said.

"When it was introduced it was to take care of boot parties where people were drinking on the street out of the back of their cars, not people who are having a drink on what is really a licensed area."

Ms Hanright said bar owners were told by police the ban was necessary because they did not have enough staff to patrol the area.

But last Friday police presence was the greatest in months, with officers spending more than half-an-hour scrutinising patrons.

Mike Galvin, owner of The Craic, said many visitors were shocked at having to move inside at 10pm.





Those who stepped off the bar's balcony with drinks had been threatened with arrest.

"The comments I've heard are 'What kind of hick town is this?' People just cannot believe they have to go inside," he said.

Dallas Nouma, owner of The Boiler Room, said without the profit made during the popular summer period, bars in Whakatane "would be stuffed".

Winter promotions would be cancelled if the ban continued.

Mr Jenkins told The Daily Post police were enforcing the ban to try to reduce alcohol-related problems.

Police were considering a proposal from bar owners that would see them take more responsibility for safety, but were not making any promises.

Meanwhile, the Rotorua District Council is due to decide on Monday whether it will force a Rotorua bar to scrap its outdoor seating.

Reg Hennessy, the owner of Hennessy's in Tutanekai St, fears that if the council decides to forbid bars with "tavern-style" liquor licences from having outdoor tables, it will see the end of much of his business.

Councillors say they are merely proposing to tighten up on a loophole that could lead to widespread abuse of the liquor ban.

However, council staff are recommending Hennessy's should retain its existing informal arrangement.

In Taupo, the district council allows bars and restaurants to use the footpath directly outside their premises, regardless of what type of licence they have.

Taupo District Council environmental services manager Chris Kimpton said the view of the lake was an integral part of the town and it would not make sense to prevent patrons from sitting outside and enjoying the view.