Proposed changes to the Alcohol Control Bylaw 2014

This consultation period closed on 13 November 2020. Thank you for having your say.
Read the feedback report for more details on the feedback given.

What happens next

All of the feedback will be considered by a Bylaw Panel at a public meeting on Friday 19 March 2021, from 9:30am at the Level 2 Reception Lounge, Auckland Town Hall, Queen Street, Auckland 1010.

The Panel will use the feedback to make recommendations on the proposal to the Governing Body. The Governing Body will make a final decision at its meeting on 29 April 2021, from 10:00am at the Level 2 Reception Lounge, Auckland Town Hall, Queen Street, Auckland 1010.

Any person is welcome to attend and listen to the Bylaw Panel and Governing Body proceedings, but there will not be an opportunity to have your say at either meeting.

About the proposal

Aucklanders drink alcohol in public places every day, for example at a family picnic, licensed venue or concert. Most people drink responsibly and without having any negative impact on others.

Sometimes, drinking in public places can cause or worsen crime or disorder there.

For example, drinkers may make too much noise, leave litter or graffiti, urinate in public, commit vandalism or theft, intimidate or assault others, trespass, or use vehicles recklessly. This can negatively affect nearby residents’ sleep, reduce the recreational or visual amenity of the place, make people feel unsafe, and place drinkers or those around them in danger of physical harm.

What Auckland Council does

We use a bylaw to enable us to make alcohol bans that prohibit alcohol in certain public places (for example a park or town centre).

The current ability to make alcohol bans is included in the Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau Te Ture ā-Rohe Whakararata Waipiro 2014/Auckland Council Alcohol Control Bylaw 2014.

Summary of the proposed changes

We recently checked how the rules are working and identified improvements.

We propose changes to the Bylaw that would:

• make new temporary alcohol bans for all major events at and around Rarotonga / Mount Smart Stadium, Waiōrea / Western Springs Stadium, Eden Park and Pukekawa / Auckland Domain in the Bylaw. These would replace any existing temporary event alcohol bans at these locations
• replace rules covered by existing legislation or council policies about making an alcohol ban and alcohol ban signage. These would instead be included only as ‘related information’
• clarify exceptions to alcohol bans for licensed premises and the transport of alcohol, and clarify how council can make temporary alcohol bans
• make the Bylaw wording easier to read and understand.

No public feedback was sought on other aspects of the Bylaw as they will remain unchanged, for example:

• existing permanent alcohol bans, except for the temporary alcohol bans proposed to be replaced
• exceptions to alcohol bans for buying and drinking alcohol at licensed premises in an alcohol ban area (including at an event) and the transport of alcohol in an unopened container
• the authority to make alcohol bans by resolution of local boards, the Auckland Domain Committee and the Regulatory Committee
• the existing process to make an alcohol ban.