Warning on drink driving during Cup

Senior Sergeant Mike Sutton said Wairarapa police will be on the look-out for drink-drivers in the region for the duration of the Rugby World Cup. FILE PHOTO

Wairarapa police will be keeping their eyes on the Rugby World Cup schedule as they look to stop fans from drinking and driving.

Police said although there were no call-outs related to the Rugby World Cup kick off last weekend, staff would need to be aware of the big games, especially those that fell on weekends.

Senior Sergeant Mike Sutton said while Wairarapa police were not undertaking World Cup operations on the same scale as their metropolitan counterparts, they would still be on the look-out for drink-drivers.

"Whenever there's a game on we will be keeping an eye on that in terms of a potential for drink-driving ... we don't plan to put extra staff on at this stage but it's more around staff who are working being aware."

Police were confident pubs would be able to handle their customers, Mr Sutton said.

"We have been speaking with most of the licensed premises and we are pretty confident they can manage their patrons."

Police would be patrolling before and after important games as well as checking in on any premises that might open specially for World Cup games, he said.

"You can expect to see extra police before and after those games start."

Mr Sutton said he understood few pubs in the district had applied, or were planning to apply, to open during Cup games.

National Manager Road Policing Superintendent Steve Greally said while police wanted everyone to get into the spirit of the Cup, they did not want people to overdo it.

"With many of the games being played in the early hours of the morning, we're reminding those out socialising to think very carefully about their alcohol and fatigue levels if driving - or better still, to make other arrangements for getting home."