Next Step in Banning Liquor

The Wellington City Council is hearing oral submissions this week on the proposed changes to the Liquor Control bylaw, which would see the ban area extended to include Newtown and other public city areas.

The Council proposes to extend the ban in order to reduce public drinking, which they argue can lead to disorderly and aggressive behaviour that puts the public at risk.

Stephanie McIntyre, director of Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) says, “The small group of individuals currently causing a public nuisance in Newtown, in part due to their alcohol use, are known to us at DCM, other social agencies and the Police”.

“They are people who have been unable to access and sustain suitable accommodation as a result of their highly complex needs, and are consequently homeless, or at best, very marginally housed”.

Downtown Community Ministry strongly believes that the establishment of a wet home in Wellington is a more preferable and beneficial option.

Stephanie says, “The need for a wet home has not diminished and finding a way to implement that project would be the most effective solution to this problem.”

A further issue is the lack of policing and accountability placed on licencees in the area, who are selling alcohol to intoxicated people on a regular basis.

An individual submitter, Stephen Judd, noted that there needs to be much more onus placed on licencees to be responsible about the selling of alcohol. He said, “There have been very few prosecutions over the last several years for selling liquor to intoxicated persons – but it is obviously happening”.

While DCM has frequently voiced sympathy with people who have had to tolerate disorderly and aggressive behaviour in public spaces, we strongly urge the Council to adopt a pragmatic and balanced response to this complex and long standing issue.

ENDS

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