Cricket: Crackdown on drunks at one-dayers

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) yesterday announced it would have separate sections for families and fans wanting to enjoy a quieter time at one-day internationals this summer.

NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said the zones would have dedicated security hosts and drunkenness and bad behaviour would not be tolerated.

However, the Alcohol Advisory Council (Alac) says family groups should not need to be separated from others to avoid being hassled.

Staff at match venues should simply refuse to serve intoxicated people, Alac chief executive Mike MacAvoy said today.

Dr MacAvoy commended NZC for acknowledging an issue with drunkenness at one-day matches.

"However, such comments imply that drunkenness and bad behaviour will be tolerated in other areas of the ground," he said.

"New Zealand has a drinking culture that tolerates drunkenness and moves such as this simply reinforce this culture.

"What does it say about our society that we need to create a special zone for families and children to feel safe at a public event?

"Instead of fencing in families and children why not just enforce the law and kick drunks out?"

Alac said stadiums which served alcohol must comply with the Sale of Liquor Act.

Under the Act, the licensee or manager can be fined up to $10,000 for the sale or supply of alcohol to an intoxicated person or allowing a person to become intoxicated while staff face fines of up to $2000.

"Surely this is enough of an incentive for the license holder and indeed the staff to ensure they abide by the law," Dr MacAvoy said.

"I would suggest that the producers of the alcohol products, New Zealand Cricket and the game's hosts get together and determine what is acceptable behaviour and how they will enforce it."

- NZPA