Business owners in two Christchurch shopping areas are calling for a ban on alcohol, claiming that antisocial behaviour caused by alcohol is a deterrent.
Businesses in the villages of Edgeware and Richmond say aggressive begging and petty crime have also increased over the past year, with some incidents resulting in police involvement.
They asked Christchurch City Council to consider imposing an alcohol ban in those areas.
Council senior policy analyst Teena Crocker said implementing a ban can be a lengthy process and often requires a lot of research.
“In many of these cases, activities are taking place that are not necessarily directly related to people drinking in public.
“There is absolutely crime and disorder, and a lot of anti-social activity, but the question for us in relation to the use of this bylaw is whether it also covers alcohol consumption in public places.”
According to council staff, there is currently insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the damage caused is related to alcohol consumption, as alcohol consumption is required to meet the legal threshold for a ban.
Following the request, councillors agreed to work with the police and other agencies for six months to investigate the causes of the antisocial behaviour in Edgeware Village.
However, they have deferred a decision on a similar request to investigate an alcohol ban in the northern Stanmore Rd area until more information is available.
Alcohol bans are already in place in more than 12 areas of Christchurch, including the city centre, Linwood and Woolston Village.
If alcohol consumption is found to be a problem during the council’s six-month monitoring period, councillors may consider introducing a trial ban on alcohol. If successful, the ban could become permanent.
– By Geoff Sloan, made with the support of NZ On Air