Drinking law still flouted

Published: 11:51AM Sunday December 30, 2001

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The police have arrested a further 110 people for flouting Mount Maunganui's liquor laws.

Revellers at the holiday hot-spot have been banned from drinking alcohol in public places until January 3.

The police have so far arrested nearly 200 people in the three days since the ban started and many are facing fines of up to $500.

Senior Sergeant Duncan MacLeod said he was disappointed at the number of arrests and that one of the people arrested was a boy who was just 14. He said police numbers at the resort doubled last night and will continue to increase.

Some of the country's mayors said there was no need to rush a bill through Parliament giving them more power to ban liquor in public places.

The bill was meant to give local authorities the power to designate areas liquor-free, and give police the power to enforce it. However, an error in the drafting meant that the ban is extended to liquor being banned in all public places.

The Mayor of the Queenstown-Lakes District, Clive Geddes, said his council was sticking with the old bylaws this year, and he would rather the legislation had been given more time in the House.

Mayor of the Thames Coromandel District, Chris Lux, said his council was operating under the old bylaws just fine, and why the law was needed at such a pace is unclear.

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