The Northland town of Kaitaia is the latest to join a list of urban centres banning liquor from downtown streets at weekends.
Kaitaia's police chief, Gordon Gunn, says the town has a problem with youths drinking in public.
Police in Whangarei, New Plymouth, Christchurch, Lower Hutt and Auckland says bans there have reduced disorderly behavior and violence on the streets.
An Auckland police officer says the use of liquor bans to make cities safer is likely to become widespread because it works.
Inspector Kerry Kay says weekend bans are now in place in a number of towns and cities.
He says violence and other alcohol-related offences have dropped noticeably since a ban was imposed in Auckland's central business district, and parts of the Viaduct Basin.
Kay says permanent liquor bans give police a way to nip trouble in the bud.
He says a new law taking effect in June will make it easier for councils to impose permanent liquor bans and he predicts more will.
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