Tauranga City Council is looking to establish new liquor ban areas in Greerton, Papamoa and Brookfield ahead of the law change to liquor ban bylaws in December this year.

Yesterday councillors agreed to put liquor bans for Greerton Village shopping centre, parts of Papamoa, including a blanket ban along Papamoa beach from 10pm to 7am, and Brookfield Shopping Centre out for public consultation.

A liquor free zone for Greerton Shopping Centre is going out for public consultation.

Liquor bans are also proposed for city reserves including Taylor Reserve, Motiti Reserve, Gordon Spratt Reserve, Topaz Drive Reserve, Papamoa Domain and Harrisons Cut. Sections of Gravatt Road and Domain Road next to Fashion Island are also touted.

The Brookfield ban is supported by police who say the tone of the area has changed with more criminal activity and disorder including serious assaults taking place in and around the shopping centre on Bellevue and Otumoetai Road.

'There has been a significant increase in alcohol related crime in Brookfield, serious assaults property crime has been increasing,” says Tauranga police area prevention manager, Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair.

There is an increase in undesirables and a ‘little bit of a gang thing” emerging in the area, says Karl.

During the summer period police were constantly receiving calls from Brookfield Shopping Centre retailers in relation to youths drinking or causing disorder. Police were also required to increase patrols in the Brookfield area in the late afternoon and night to deal with youths walking the streets or congregating in reserves to consume alcohol.

Most of the serious assaults attended by police in Brookfield involved combatants affected by alcohol, says Karl.

Brookfield is becoming more of a problem area for police.

Councillors also suggested liquor bans at the Carmichael Reserve and the Carlton Street Reserve, but decided to hear back from the community in the public submissions process to learn if there are any other problem drinking areas on public land.

A permanent liquor ban on Papamoa Beach has resurfaced after being rejected as draconian when the bylaw was last reviewed in 2010. This time councillors are looking at a night-time ban on beachside drinking from 10pm-7am.

The Gordon Spratt Reserve in Papamoa has also been put forward for a night time 10pm-7am liquor ban.

Papamoa Police say the reserves are known party areas where youths ‘pre-load' alcohol before moving on to other areas and other offending.

The rush is on to put implement the bans as the Alcohol Reform Act changes the rules on December 18, making passing bylaws tougher.

Under the new act councils will have to present evidence that alcohol is a cause of a higher level of crime and disorder. At present councils can make a liquor ban bylaw if it is perceived that alcohol is causing a problem, and it is supported by the community.

Bylaws in effect on December 18 will expire after five years, and councils will then be forced to re-apply.

The question about how councils will make the evidential case when re-applying for areas that have been under successful liquor bans for years remains unanswered.

The liquor ban gives police a tool to control public drinking mainly by young people. Not everyone breaching a liquor ban is arrested, say police, unless in their judgement the person is likely to go on and commit further offense, or be a victim of crimes themselves.

The amended draft bylaw will be brought back to the committee before going out for public consultation in the Annual Plan process.