A practice known to police as ‘pre-loading', where Blues Brews and BBQs ticket holders drink in their cars before entering the venue, has brought about the city's first ever temporary liquor free zone.
The bylaw allowing the council to create temporary liquor free zones came into effect on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Tauranga City Councillors unanimously voted for the zone for the BBBQs event.
The resolution means there will be liquor free zones on all streets surrounding the Blake Park venue.
A scene from the 2009 Blues Brews and BBQs event at Blake Park.
Hull Road, Totara Street, Matai Street and Maunganui Road back to Hull Road, and all streets within the Bain Street, Valley Road to Clyde Street, and Clyde Street to Maunganui Road – will be liquor free zones from 10am till 10pm on the day of the event.
The expectation is there will be more on-street parking this year with the Mount Greens project now occupying the Totara-Matai-Tawa block.
The move was sought by police, in addition to changing the day of the event from a Thursday to Saturday January 15, and shortening it.
This year, BBBQs starts at noon and is over by 7pm. The Thursday event was from 2-10pm. The ticket price remains $25.
In his written request to council, inspector Karl Wright-St Clair says a shift in the style of the event occurred when the drinking age was lowered to 18.
Before then it was seen by police to be a family friendly event, with many families attending with children. It is now seen as a binge drinking opportunity for teenagers, says Karl.
Also, the event has shifted from a boutique beer focus to now stocking a larger number of common beers, says Karl.
Police say there were 20 arrests associated with the 2009 event, and 14 people who had been at the event were stopped while driving home over the alcohol limit.
Police believe a shorter event held in daylight will 'have a significant effect on the level of intoxication and improve the ability for police to monitor the event”.
Councillors only qualms were about informing ticket buyers of the temporary liquor ban. The streets will be signposted at $80 a sign, and there will be notices posted at the ANZ bank points of sale and on the website.
3 comments
Look at the Photo
Posted on 04-12-2010 13:41 | By Colleen Spiro
I read where one our best bands in Tauranga "Brilleaux, has not applied to play at the Blues, Brews and BBQ's because the focus seem to be on drinking and dressing in silly costumes and that it is less about family and music. I am looking at the photo above and these "adults" seem to be using the children as their own "personal tables".... The children do not look as if they are enjoying themselves. Do they get in a car and drive home with the children???? I personally think it is a mistake to change it to a Saturday, as "lunch is not a big meal for some" and in the heat of the days, one tends to feel the effects of alcohol more. There is also the fact, that for most there is not the deterrent of over-indulging, because when it was held on a Thursday, patrons would probably bear in the mind the fact that they had work in the morning. It is interesting to note that the atmosphere changed when they lowered the drinking age.... same old, same old, but they will not bring the legal age down will they.
looking dumb
Posted on 04-12-2010 19:27 | By 0007
agreed with the above. those boys look dumb!
get over it
Posted on 13-12-2010 12:19 | By adam
i am one of those 20 year old boys dressed in our beer outfits and as far as im concerned you all need to get over it! the idea of the day is to have fun, get dressed up if you want, sample some beer and have fun in the sun.stop acting like a pack of nanas and take a chill pill for once in your lifes!
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