Editorial: Identity crisis for RWC

It looks like Rugby World Cup organisers have another problem to worry about.

Just months away from kick-off, and beset by concerns over ticket sales and Auckland's controversial "party central" development, a former Wanganui family's trip home has revealed another potential headache for those behind Rugby World Cup 2011.

As revealed in today's Chronicle, 19-year-old Dylan Gullery was unable to enter a Wanganui bar, or buy alcohol at a local supermarket, after using his Australian driver's licence as proof of age.

Dylan was told he needed either a New Zealand driver's licence, a Hospitality Association of New Zealand (HANZ) 18+ card or his passport, to get into the bar.

The alarm bells start ringing when you consider that an estimated 85,000 international visitors expected to come to this country for the Rugby World Cup could run into the same problem.

The greatest fear of Rugby World Cup organisers will be that many people will have their experience of the event, and our country, sullied by hassles in being able to purchase alcohol or enter licensed premises.

Asking guests to carry around their passports simply doesn't cut it.

Anyone who has travelled overseas know the risks of going out socialising while carrying a passport and the consequences of losing it.

Most visitors to this country won't have a New Zealand driver's licence, so they're left with the option of applying for a HANZ 18+ card.

But again, there's a problem.

The Gullery family were told it could take up to three weeks for a HANZ 18+ card to be issued to their son.

Rugby World Cup tourists will not be prepared to wait that long, and there will be huge difficulties in sending out a card to people who will be constantly on the move during their time in New Zealand.

According to HANZ chief executive Bruce Robertson, Rugby World Cup organisers expect less than 6 per cent of the international visitors who come to New Zealand to be under the age of 25.

That may be so, but the stiff penalties for serving underage drinkers, coupled with the huge numbers of patrons some bar owners will be dealing with, will ensure most bars will be exercising extreme caution and making plenty of checks on those seeking to purchase alcohol.

Rugby World Cup organisers have acknowledged the issue, and Mr Robertson said his organisation was looking at ways of speeding up the HANZ 18+ card application process.

It can only be hoped a sensible solution can be found, otherwise the Rugby World Cup may quickly lose some of its sheen.

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editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz