Drink pact to keep parties on even keel

By Jason Collie

"Happy hours" luring America's Cup revellers with cheap drinks will be frowned on under a new pact for downtown pubs.

Bars and restaurants have been told to drop cut-price sessions as part of an accord with police and liquor authorities to stamp out drunkenness during the America's Cup and millennium events.

Up to 100,000 people are expected to pack the downtown area at times during the cup events this summer, and Auckland City Council licensing manager Mike Simpson said trouble was inevitable if some were drunk from cheap-alcohol offers.

"We can't force people to stop their happy hours, but we are saying that's not the way to go," he said.

Only nine of the 62 licensed premises around the Downtown, Viaduct Basin and Fort St areas have signed the accord among licensed premises, police, the city council, residents and the hospitality industry.

But a further 30 have agreed verbally, and organisers hope by summer to have 80 signatures - including some from outside the core area.

The accord sets guidelines for bars and restaurants, including not serving youngsters or people who are drunk, having trained staff and not having cheap drink promotions.

Police and the council would have a "friendly, and not so friendly, discussion" if a pub offered cheap drinks, as would other bar managers who had signed the accord, Mr Simpson said.

The accord sets up a mediation service to help bring errant pubs back into line before the police or liquor authorities prosecute.

Tony Martin, Auckland branch president of the Hospitality Association, said the downtown area had become too upmarket for cheap- drink promotions.

"People who want free or cheap drinks will go to places which are renowned for it," he said.

Auckland police Superintendent Howard Broad admitted the force could not cope with a large outbreak of trouble in the area, but said the accord effectively recruited more "constables" among the council, bars and restaurants and industry groups.

Having more people dealing with crowds in smaller groups would keep the lid on trouble, he said.

Auckland mayor Christine Fletcher said she hoped the accord would remain in operation after the America's Cup.