Reports
Request for Temporary Alcohol Ban During
Orientation 2018
Department: Customer and Regulatory Services
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 The
Council has received a late request to consider implementing a temporary
alcohol ban in the North Dunedin area during Orientation 2018.
2 The Otago
University Students’ Association (OUSA) has requested a temporary alcohol
ban in North Dunedin for the period 21 – 24 February 2018 from 6.00 pm to
12.00 midnight each evening (Attachment A).
3 The area
to be covered by the temporary ban is bounded by Albany Street, Riego Street,
Harbour Terrace and Dundas Street, Butts Road, Anzac Avenue, State Highway 88
and Anzac Avenue back to Albany Street (Attachment B).
4 Police
advise they support the OUSA in their request for the temporary alcohol ban if
it will assist them with the safe running of their events.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Council:
a) Approves the
implementation of a temporary alcohol ban between 6.00 pm and 12.00 midnight
from Wednesday 21 February to Saturday 24 February 2018 inclusive in the area
bounded by Albany Street, Riego Street, Harbour Terrace and Dundas Street,
Butts Road, Anzac Avenue, State Highway 88 and Anzac Avenue back to Albany
Street.
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BACKGROUND
5 At the
beginning of each academic year the OUSA organises a series of activities for
students during the University’s Orientation period. The activities
are used as a welcome and introduction to new and returning students. As
well as providing information the OUSA host various entertainment from sports
days to evening music gigs. The Forsyth Barr Stadium has been used as the
venue for the evening gigs since 2012. Prior to this most large events
were held in the central city where there is already an alcohol restriction.
6 Temporary
alcohol bans have been in place for the last three annual orientation events.
The organisers found the events were more easily managed with an alcohol ban in
place as the restriction limited the amount of alcohol consumed while patrons
were walking to the stadium. Intoxicated people were more easily identified and
there was less conflict at the gates because security did not need to ask
people to discard drinks.
7 Rubbish
recycle bins will be placed at the perimeter of the ban area. In the past
this has encouraged people to dispose of litter properly, leading to a decrease
in the amount of rubbish in the area after events.
8 Section
5.2 of the Alcohol (Control of Alcohol in Public Places) Bylaw 2004 (Attachment
C) provides the ability for Council to implement temporary alcohol restrictions
when considered appropriate. It states:
“The Council may
from time to time by resolution specify additional periods and public places
during which the bringing of alcohol into, the possession and/or consumption of
alcohol in that public place may be prohibited. The Council may make such
a resolution in relation to any planned public event, function or social
gathering to be held in that public place.”
discussion
9 The
Forsyth Barr Stadium will be the venue for the three main evening events during
the 2018 Orientation Week as well as a Highlanders v. Blues Super 15 Rugby
Game. The events are
a) Wednesday 21
February 2018 – Toga Party
b) Thursday 22
February 2018 – Chase & Status + MC Rage + More TBA
c) Friday 23
February 2018 – Highlanders v. Blues
d) Saturday 24
February 2018 – Down the Rabbit Hole
10 The use of the
stadium as a venue enables security and event staff to observe people
approaching the area as it has good visibility of all approach routes.
Intoxicated people are more easily identified and approached by staff before
they get to the gates. People who choose to ‘pre-load’
outside the alcohol ban area will often be showing the effects of what they
have consumed by the time they have reached the entry to the stadium.
11 The organisers
report a reduction of conflict situations at the gates when a temporary ban has
been in place. In the past there has been conflict when people are told
to discard their drinks because they cannot enter the stadium with
alcohol. The ban means people are not openly carrying alcohol and only a
few try and ‘smuggle’ it inside.
12 The temporary
alcohol ban is supported by the Police. The cost of signage and
advertising will be approximately $1,200 and will be met from the alcohol
licensing budget.
13 The Police will
monitor the restriction as they do in the central city with education and
discretion being the priority. Enforcement will only be used if the
circumstances require such an approach.
14 The Alcohol (Control
of Alcohol in Public Places) Bylaw 2004 requires that any resolution made by
Council is publicly notified in the Otago Daily Times and by street signage in
or adjacent to the specified public place at least 14 days before it takes
effect. However, due to the timing of the request, the notice period will
only be eight days.
15 In order to ensure
public awareness of the request and possible alcohol ban the following action
has been taken:
a) The OUSA will
have details of the ban on their orientation website and a media release will
be released advising the Council has been asked to consider the proposal but no
decision has been made.
b) There has been
public notice of the request in the Otago Daily Times on 3 February and 19
February, on the Councils website since 3 February.
c) There have
been no objections or complaints about the imposition of temporary alcohol bans
in the area in previous years.
OPTIONS
16 There are two
options for Council to consider.
Option
One – Implement a temporary alcohol ban (recommended)
17 This would allow an
alcohol free area around the Forsyth Barr Stadium in the period leading up to
and during the three Orientation events and the Super 15 rugby game.
Advantages
· There
will be controls in place to provide police with an early intervention tool to
help minimise pre-loading of alcohol before the four main events at the
stadium.
· Intoxication
levels of people approaching the stadium gates will more easily be assessed.
· There
will be minimal impact on people not attending events at the stadium.
Disadvantages
· There
will be a small cost associated with the implementation of the ban ($1,200).
· May
be viewed by some as having an unnecessary ban in place.
Option
Two – No alcohol ban put in place (status quo)
18 This option would
mean there will be no additional controls in place during Orientation.
Advantages
· There
would be no further input from the Council.
Disadvantages
· Police
and event organisers would not have an ability to use an early intervention
tool to help minimise alcohol-related harm.
· OUSA
and gate staff at the stadium may have more difficulties with intoxicated
people wanting to gain entry.
NEXT STEPS
19 The Alcohol (Control
of Alcohol in Public Places) Bylaw 2004 requires that any resolution made by
Council pursuant to section 5 is publicly notified in the Otago Daily Times and
by street signage in or adjacent to the specified public place before it takes
effect.
20 If the temporary ban
is approved, public notice will begin on Wednesday 14 February 2018.
Prior public notice of the OUSA’s request has been carried out.
Signatories
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Author:
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Kevin Mechen - Secretary, District Licensing Committee
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Authoriser:
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Adrian Blair - Group Manager Customer and Regulatory
Services
Simon Pickford - General Manager Community Services
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Attachments
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Title
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Page
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a
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OUSA Alcohol Ban
Request
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21
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b
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Temporary Alcohol Ban
Area
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23
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c
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Alcohol (Control of
Alcohol in Public Places) Bylaw 2004
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24
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SUMMARY OF CONSIDERATIONS
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Fit with purpose
of Local Government
This proposal relates to providing a regulatory function
and it is considered good-quality and cost-effective by providing the Police
with an early intervention tool to help minimise alcohol-related harm in an
area and at a time of high-risk to young people.
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Fit with strategic
framework
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Contributes
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Detracts
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Not applicable
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Social Wellbeing Strategy
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☒
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☐
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☐
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Economic Development Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Environment Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Arts and Culture Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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3 Waters Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Spatial Plan
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Integrated Transport Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Parks and Recreation Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Other strategic projects/policies/plans
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☐
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☐
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☒
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The proposal contributes to the Social Wellbeing Strategy
in that it will support a ‘healthy and safe people’. The
activities planned by the OUSA encourage students to come together and
participate in the planned activities through the week. The proposal
will help minimise the risk of alcohol-related harm.
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Māori Impact
Statement
There are no known impacts for tangata whenua.
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Sustainability
There are no implications for sustainability.
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LTP/Annual Plan /
Financial Strategy /Infrastructure Strategy
There are no implications for the LTP or Annual Plan.
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Financial
considerations
There will be a small cost for advertising and temporary
alcohol restriction signage. This would be approximately $1,200. and is
provided for in the alcohol licensing budget.
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Significance
The proposal has been assessed under the Council’s
Significance and Engagement Policy as being of low significance.
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Engagement –
external
The OUSA, University of Otago and Police have been
consulted.
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Engagement -
internal
The Council staff with an interest in the area have been
consulted.
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Risks: Legal /
Health and Safety etc.
No risks have been identified. The recommended
option is not considered to be contrary to or inconsistent with the New
Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 as the prevention of alcohol related harm has
been prioritised by Parliament. Parliament has provided for Councils to
impose temporary alcohol bans to avoid alcohol related harm, and the ban
proposed is considered to be appropriate and proportionate to the risk of alcohol
related harm occurring as a consequence of the proposed event.
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Conflict of
Interest
There are no known conflicts of interest.
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Community Boards
There are no implications for Community Boards.
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