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Source: ONE News -
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It could soon be illegal to have an open bottle of alcohol anywhere in Wellington City if a council proposal goes ahead.
Currently the ban covers much of the central city, but it could stretch to the northern suburbs as far as Tawa, Karori and Seatoun after a public meeting raised concerns about the effect of heavy drinking on the community.
On Thursday the Wellington City Council voted for more information on a city wide ban, which if it becomes law, will become the first city in New Zealand to do so.
Those caught drinking alcohol in the alcohol-free zones could be arrested and slapped with a $200 fine.
Residents of Newtown began demanding the council push for a liquor ban in their area after concerns over anti-social behaviour in their suburb.
"It seems that a lot of people who don't have jobs seem to congregate around here and drink because they can't do it in the city centre," says Tom Law of the Newtown Residents' Association.
While Law sees the ban as a Newtown issue, rather than a city-wide ban, the police say any liquor ban should be 24/7 and must be city-wide.
"One liquor ban for the whole city would be far easier to enforce for us," says Wellington Police Inspector Simon Perry.
The options were debated under urgency by the City Council on Thursday morning.
Wellington City Councillor Iona Pannett is worried the new law would not really solve the problem of drinking.
"My concern is that it's actually not going to stop the drinking or abuse of alcohol. It just puts it into another sphere of the city," says Pannett.
But Wellington City Mayor Kerry Prendergast believes a ban is a good idea.
'I've come to the conclusion that I don't think drinking in a public place is appropriate for ...anywhere in our city," says Prendergast.
Liquor bans are already in place across much of the central city and the nearby fringe suburb of Aro Valley.
Councillor Stephanie Cook, who is an Aro Valley resident, says a ban has helped the suburb.
"Our kids can use it in safety, that mothers and children can walk through there without being abused or being subjected to inappropriate behaviour such as urinating in front of children," says Cook.
But there are worries the total alcohol ban could make Wellingtonians enjoying a quiet summer picnic with a glass of wine criminals in the eye of the law, though the police think that is unlikely.
"I think in the botanic gardens at the Punch and Judy Show, we're not going to be enforcing the liquor ban," says Perry.
The Council says it still wants more information about the options and it will consult the public before any decision is made.
Civil liberties groups are already saying that a city-wide alcohol ban would encroach on peoples' human rights.
The Council will also be keeping an eye on the Palmer Report - Sir Geoffrey Palmer's Law Commission report into the country's alcohol laws in making their decision.
A final decision on the ban may be announced in June.
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