Editorial: Booze sure to spoil things

It was a tale of two cities on New Year's Eve when you compare the relatively quiet Bay of Plenty New Year with the riot in Gisborne.

Here in the Bay, there were the lowest number of arrests in the event's history. Reporter Sandra Conchie and photographer George Novak were among tens of thousands of revellers at the Mount. Many families were glad to come to a place where it was fun but was safe and well organised.

I have no doubt that it was the effective policing and liquor bans in the area that made the event a success.

There was a good vibe and interaction between police and party-goers. It makes me relieved to hear prevention Inspector Scott Fraser say: "Year after year, the Bay of Plenty is proving it has great communities and is a safe and friendly place to enjoy the summer."

Contrast that with Gisborne's sorry story, where 63 people were arrested and 83 injured, following a massive riot in the BW Summer Festival. Police battled with drunken mobs for more than three hours.

Campers had been allowed to bring unlimited alcohol in. The festival had been granted a special licence but festival organisers reverted to BYO status after pressure from festival-goers who had already purchased tickets.

I'm horrified to read some comments on social media hoping it doesn't get shut down next year by the "fun police".

I'm sure those innocently trying to celebrate New Year but who ended up sheltering under mattresses in terror would not describe the evening as fun.

Neither would police and emergency service staff, who work tirelessly on public holidays, not able to spend it with their own families, so they can keep communities safe.

I wouldn't have minded if police had just blasted the mob with tear gas and let them wake up on New Year's Day in a cell.

If we needed more proof that BYO should not be allowed at public events, here it is.

People who moan about "police state" and "fun police" should remember it is the police who protect us from idiots like the Gisborne rioters.

We should be grateful for the police and regulations which made our Mount New Year fun but without trouble.