Ban on public drinking mooted

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 656, 1 October 1996, Page 3

Ban on public drinking mooted

Sitting at a footpath caf 6 sipping a glass of wine may be outlawed in the Ruapehu District, if some councillors get their way. At last Friday ' s Ruapehu District Council meeting, councillors moved to push for an amendment to the Local Government Act to make it possible for local authorities to pass by-laws that would

permanently ban drinking in some public places. While all councillors agreed that it was reasonable to outlaw drunken and disorderly behaviour, there was debate over how far such a by-law should go. Some councillors expressed the view that the law already allowed police to prosecute people who were drunk and disorderly in a public place.

However, some, led by mayor Weston Kirton, supported a total ban on public drinking within the district. "I am talking about the person taking the liberty of drinking in our main streets. My view is that it is not appropriate," said Mr Kirton. Cr Ellen Gould said she was concerned that such a move would be damaging to legitimate busi-

nesses, for example, Ohakune cafes. Council chief executive officer Cliff Houston advised the council that before a by-law was introduced, the government would have to change the Act to give councils the power to enforce such a by-law. He said at present, such a by-law may not stand up in court as it would contradict the Bill of Rights.