MEDIA RELEASE

16 October 2003

Alcohol ban makes Auckland's CBD safer

The central city alcohol ban has contributed to a reduction in disorderly behaviour and increased public perceptions of safety, according to an evaluation carried out by Auckland City Council.

The evaluation included an analysis of police statistics and last drinks survey results, interviews with the police and central city retailers, and two public telephone surveys.

Chairperson of Auckland City’s Law and Order Committee, Councillor Noelene Raffills, says the results of the evaluation have been very encouraging.

Police officers and retailers have noted that people’s behaviour around alcohol has improved. Police statistics reveal a decrease in reported incidences of disorderly behaviour and criminal offending.

The alcohol ban has also resulted in a 25 per cent reduction in litter in the central city. “Auckland City street crews no longer have to spend as much time picking up bottles, cans, broken glass and other debris. There has been a noticeable improvement in the general cleanliness of the city’s streets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings,” she says.

The results of this evaluation support alcohol bans as an appropriate mechanism for reducing alcohol-related disorder. This information will be used to assist the Auckland City in its alcohol ban bylaw making process.

Last month’s City Development Committee endorsed a draft bylaw that will allow the council to maintain the existing central city ban as well as create new alcohol bans in the city’s public places.

If approved by the full council at its meeting later this month, the bylaw will go out for public consultation in November and December.

Mrs Raffills says the council has received numerous requests for alcohol bans from members of the public, community boards, Mainstreet organisations and the police.

“People are fed up with the noise, violence, litter, vandalism and damage inflicted by drunks in our public places,” she says.

The central city alcohol ban was introduced in September last year to help the police deal with drink-related problems. It was extended to cover the Viaduct area in November 2002.

Ends

Ref: BV

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