Temporary alcohol ban for Sevens in Hamilton

The extended alcohol ban map for the Sevens Tournament at FMG Stadium. Photo / Hamilton City Council

Hamilton's alcohol ban area has been extended for Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 February for the HSBC NZ Sevens 2018.

As well as the usual alcohol ban area, tournament goers also won't be able to drink or have opened alcohol in the streets surrounding FMG stadium.

You are able to carry unopened alcohol if you're going home or to a restaurant. Breaches of the temporary alcohol ban could result in $250 fines.

Hamilton City Councillors voted unanimously on December 20 and without any debate to approve the temporary alcohol ban following a submission from police.

A letter from Waikato Police said "the area proposed for the extension encompasses the FMG Stadium's surrounding streets where it its deemed that ticket holders will likely park their vehicles. The ban will provide a deterrent for ticket holders to preload or leave the stadium to sideload."

"Waikato Police are keen for the Sevens Tournament to be a success and are already working closely with event organisers to make this a positive and memorable event for all involved."

The say they need the extra powers to prevent alcohol harm over the period of the Sevens Tournament.

"We consider it a high probability that many ticket holders will want to access cheaper alcohol during the day and will either bring alcohol in their cars for consumption or purchase it from local liquor stores to consume outside the stadium."

At the December meeting councillor Garry Mallett asked if local clubs such as Hamilton Old Boys which is licensed to sell alcohol would still be able to do so with the temporary ban.

"It does not affect their ability to trade or any other member of the public who is on private property. [The other clubs] are trading pursuant to a license," a representatives from Waikato Police said.

Councillor Angela O'Leary said that communication to the public of the alcohol ban needed to be on point.

"What we do not want is the community to think that we are banning alcohol in the stadium because I think that is what Wellington did and I think that may have contributed to the decline of the event if I am to believe media," Ms O'Leary said.

Councillor James Casson questioned if the police would be breath testing people going into the stadium.

"No, certainly not from a police perspective," said Detective Inspector Hywel Jones.