www.lwb.co.nz
•
buy
•
accommodation
•
sell
•
information
•
jobs
•
No No 434 661
FIRST ON THE STREET
31st July -- 63thrdAugust 2018 27th Jan Feb 2014
LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN
9 J 3 O IN SI BS D E
enquiries@lwb.co.nz
Dry July has finished, but soon it might not just be willpower putting a stop to Queenstown’s drinking habits. Last week, the council met to discuss proposed extensions to the daily alcohol ban periods and a total alcohol ban for National Crate Day (an unofficial celebration of the first day of summer). This includes a 24-hour, district-wide alcohol ban on Crate Day and creating an earlier ‘ban period’ in public places from the current 10pm - 8am, to 8pm – 8am. The measures have been proposed in “the interests of minimising harm and offensive behaviour in the district’s public places” (source: QLDC media release). The suggestion is that there is more control at home and in licensed premises. The additional controls are a reaction to Queenstown’s so-called ‘drinking problem’. In 2016, groups of young people gathered on the Village Green to celebrate Crate Day and as large groups do, they left a lot of litter behind. Local drink-driving statistics are higher than the national average and as a tourist town, Queenstown certainly sees more than its fair share of people in ‘holiday mode’ - with a reduced sense of social responsibility. But does this warrant more controls? Will extra bylaws put a stop to alcoholrelated issues in Queenstown? I doubt it. Gradually criminalising drinking in public spaces is a broad-brush solution and presumes that alcohol is the root cause of the problem when it’s not – idiotic over-consumption and irresponsible behaviour is the root of the problem. If the extended drinking ban goes ahead, celebrating your 30th wedding anniversary on the lakefront after 8pm will be illegal. Unless you work office hours, a beer on the beach with colleagues after work will also be disallowed. Such bans don’t consider these small freedoms which ordinary, responsible people enjoy regularly, without causing mayhem.
Jennifer Stilwell, Sonia Voldsmith and Jodie Van Strik at the Chamber of Commerce Building Block at the Skycity Queenstown conference room on Wednesday.
(Photo: Jodi Walters)
Ironically, it’s usually responsible folk who adhere to the rules. Littering, offensive behaviour and drink-driving are already illegal. Why not spend extra energy preventing this poor behaviour, instead of encroaching on the freedom of everyone who enjoys a drink? At the 2016 Crate Day, no arrests were made and there’s no suggestion that drinking in a bar or at home encourages better behaviour. There’s also no evidence to suggest someone is more likely to drink and drive if they consume alcohol on the lakefront. Perhaps it’s time we moved away from the Puritan idea that alcohol is the root of all evil and that prohibition is the solution. We should instead find the extra resources to place more emphasis on preventing littering, drink-driving and other offensive behaviour. Bethany G. Rogers
QUEENSTOWNS BIGGEST LATINO PARTY SATURDAY AUGUST 4TH
www.qac.co.nz
DJ MILANDRES FROM MIDNIGHT
JOHN RAVENS WEATHER Last week John was 98% correct
RENTAL PROPERTIES
See inside back cover for our full list
TUES
WED
THUR
FRI
SAT
SUN
MON
Occasional rain. Northerlies.
Cloudy with a few showers.
Mostly cloudy. Spots of rain.
Few spots of rain. Clearing.
Mainly Fine. Light winds.
Cloudy. Light winds.
Cloudy. Not much wind.