Auckland Council has rules that allow us to make alcohol bans in public places (like parks or town centres). We also have rules for activities at council cemeteries and crematoria (like burial and use of monuments and adornments).
These are contained in the Alcohol Control Bylaw 2014 and the Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw 2014.
We recently checked how the rules are working and identified improvements to both bylaws.
Public consultation on our proposed improvements opens on Saturday 10 October.
Regulatory Committee chair, Councillor Linda Cooper, explains proposed improvements to the Alcohol Control Bylaw clarify and strengthen existing rules.
“Alcohol bans help to reduce crime and disorder in public places from people drinking there,” she says.
“However, only some events at our big venues are currently covered by existing temporary alcohol bans.
“We propose making temporary, events-based bans part of the bylaw for four venues so they apply automatically when there’s a major event on, like a concert or sports game.
“This means venues won’t have to go through the process of submitting a temporary alcohol ban application each time there’s a major event on. This will save time and money and better help reduce alcohol-related harm.
“People can still buy and drink alcohol from licenced premises within these venues, that doesn’t change,” says Councillor Cooper.
She adds proposed improvements to the Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw seek to clarify the Bylaw wording to make it easier to read and understand.
“There are no changes to what the Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw does, which is to enable the council to make rules in a separate code of practice for activities at council cemeteries and crematoria.
“Rules in the existing Cemeteries and Crematoria Code of Practice 2014 will be reviewed following a final decision on the Bylaw.”
Here’s what we’re proposing
We propose improvements to the Alcohol Control 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 the council can make temporary alcohol bans
- Make the Bylaw wording easier to read and understand.
No changes are proposed to existing permanent alcohol bans and people will still be able to buy and drink alcohol from licensed premises in an alcohol ban area (including at an event).
Proposed improvements to the Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw clarify the Bylaw wording to make it easier to read and understand.
No changes are proposed to the Cemeteries and Crematoria Code of Practice 2014 (which contains the rules for activities at council cemeteries and crematoria). This will be reviewed separately following a final decision on the Bylaw.
How to have your say
Public consultation on the proposed improvements to both bylaws opens tomorrow and runs until November 13.
See more information and how you can have your say here for the Alcohol Control Bylaw and here the Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw.
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