Alcohol in public places
Christchurch City Council has an alcohol policy that deals with applications for special licences, licensed premises’ operating hours, enforcement, the use of alcohol bans and bylaws, advertising and sponsorship on Council property and other alcohol-related policy matters.
Council has a number of permanent and temporary bylaws that restrict the possession or consumption of alcohol in some public places within the Christchurch City Council district.
The Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Bylaw 2009
The purpose of alcohol bylaws is to reduce alcohol-related harm, damage, disorder and crime, and to improve community safety in public spaces such as parks, riverbanks and beaches.
The Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Bylaw defines nine permanent alcohol ban areas where the possession or consumption of alcohol is prohibited.
The bylaw was adopted by Council on 28 May 2009 and came into force on 1 July 2009.
The amendments to the Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Bylaw which include Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Amendment (Riccarton/Ilam) Bylaw 2011 and the Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Amendment (Okains Bay) Bylaw 2011 defines a further two permanent alcohol ban areas where the possession or consumption of alcohol is prohibited.
The amendments were adopted by Council on 27 October 2011 and came into force on 1 December 2011.
A breach of the bylaw is an offence and may result in arrest, prosecution and/or a fine. The bylaw is enforced by the Police, using special powers in the Local Government Act.
Copies of the bylaw are available at service centres, Council libraries and here:
Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Bylaw 2009 [PDF 1.2MB]
Permanent alcohol ban areas apply in the following areas:
- Central City
- Hagley Park and Environs
- South Colombo
- New Brighton Mall, Marine Parade and Environs
- Northlands Mall Surrounds
- Sumner Esplanade
- Jellie Park
- Akaroa
- Spencer Park
- Riccarton/Ilam
- Okains Bay
Temporary alcohol bans
Hagley Park around the Events Centre during the 2011 Rugby World Cup extending into Cup and Show Week, on New Years Eve 2011/12 and during the Buskers Festival 2011/12.
Papanui and Merivale, until 9 September 2012.
Permanent alcohol bans
The areas where permanent alcohol bans apply are:
Central City
Name of Alcohol Ban Area | Central City |
Description of Alcohol Ban Area | The area bounded by and inclusive of Bealey Avenue, Fitzgerald Avenue, Moorhouse Avenue, Hagley Avenue, Rolleston Avenue and the section of the Avon River that runs alongside Park Terrace (from the Armagh Street Bridge to the Harper Avenue/Bealey Avenue Bridge), as indicated in the map below. |
Times, days or dates during which alcohol restrictions apply | At all times (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) |
Central City alcohol restrictions map
Hagley Park and Environs
Name of Alcohol Ban Area | Hagley Park and Environs |
Description of Alcohol Ban Area | General description: The greater Hagley Park area, including Hagley Park South, Hagley Park North, the Botanic Gardens, Little Hagley Park and the area around Millbrook Reserve, as well as the streets included within and bounding this area (subject to the exceptions and further descriptions below), as indicated in the map on the following page. Note: this area runs adjacent to the 24hr Central City Alcohol Ban Area, but only applies from 10:00pm to 7:00am. The streets, or relevant parts of the streets which bound this area are as follows: - Deans Avenue – the ban includes the whole of Deans Avenue - Moorhouse Avenue – the ban includes the section of Moorhouse Avenue that runs alongside South Hagley Park (from Deans Avenue to Hagley Avenue) - Hagley Avenue – the ban stops at the edge of the Park alongside Hagley Avenue, but does not include Hagley Avenue (Hagley Avenue is covered by the 24hr Central City Alcohol Ban Area) - Rolleston Ave – the ban stops at the edge of the Park alongside Rolleston Avenue, but does not include Rolleston Avenue (Rolleston Avenue is covered by the 24hr Central City Alcohol Ban Area) - Carlton Mill Road – the ban includes the whole of Carlton Mill Road - Rossall Street – the ban includes the section of Rossall Street that runs from Carlton Mill Road to Rhodes Street - Rhodes Street – the ban includes the section of Rhodes Street that runs from Rossall Street to Helmores Lane - Helmores Lane – the ban includes the section of Helmores Lane that runs from Rhodes Street to the Helmores Lane Bridge (and includes Helmores Lane from the Bridge to Harper Avenue inside the ban area). The sections of the Avon River that form a boundary to the ban area are: - alongside Park Terrace (from the Armagh Street Bridge to the Harper Avenue/Bealey Avenue Bridge) - along the north side of Little Hagley Park (from the Helmores Lane bridge to the Fendalton Road/Deans Avenue Bridge). |
Times, days or dates during which alcohol restrictions apply | 10:00pm – 7:00am, 7 days a week |
Hagley Park alcohol restrictions map
South Colombo
Name of Alcohol Ban Area | South Colombo |
Description of Alcohol Ban Area | The area bounded by and inclusive of all of, or the relevant parts of, Moorhouse Avenue, Waltham Road, St Martins Road, Centaurus Road, Cashmere Road, Barrington Street, Somerfield Street, Strickland Street and Antigua Street (as indicated in the map below) |
Times, days or dates during which alcohol restrictions apply | At all times (24 hrs a day, 7 days a week) |
South Colombo Street restrictions map
New Brighton Mall, Marine Parade and Environs
Name of Alcohol Ban Area | New Brighton Mall, Marine Parade and Environs |
Description of Alcohol Ban Area | The area generally including New Brighton Mall, Marine Parade and the New Brighton beach area (as indicated in the map below). New Brighton Mall – the area bounded by and inclusive of all of, or the relevant parts of, Marine Parade, Beresford Street, Owles Terrace, Hawke Street, Keyes Road and Lonsdale Street. Marine Parade and the New Brighton beach area - Marine Parade (from Beach Road to Bridge Street), and the beach alongside that section of Marine Parade, including the Pier, (down to the mean low water spring level). |
Times, days or dates during which alcohol restrictions apply | At all times (24 hrs a day, 7 days a week) |
New Brighton Mall, Marine Parade and Environs alcohol restrictions map
Northlands Mall Surrounds
Name of Alcohol Ban Area | Northlands Mall Surrounds |
Description of Alcohol Ban Area | The area bounded by and inclusive of all of, or the relevant parts of, Main North Road, Sawyers Arms Road, Sisson Drive, Restell Street and Harewood Road, as well as all of St James Park, as indicated in the map below. |
Times, days or dates during which alcohol restrictions apply | Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, from 9.00pm to 6.00am. |
Northlands Mall Surrounds alcohol restrictions map
Sumner Esplanade
Name of Alcohol Ban Area | Sumner Esplanade |
Description of Alcohol Ban Area | The area bounded by and inclusive of the whole of the Esplanade (from Marriner Street to Heberden Avenue) and along Heberden Avenue (from the Esplanade to the Sumner Boat Ramp car park), and including the Sumner Boat Ramp car park, as well as the beach that runs alongside this area (down to the mean low water spring level), as indicated in the map below. |
Times, days or dates during which alcohol restrictions apply | Starts at 7.00 pm each Thursday night and applies until midnight at the end of each Sunday night. |
Sumner Esplanade alcohol restrictions map
Jellie Park
Name of Alcohol Ban Area | Jellie Park |
Description of Alcohol Ban Area | The whole of Jellie Park, excluding the Jellie Park Pool Complex, as indicated in the map below. The ban extends to, but does not include Greers Road and Ilam Road. |
Times, days or dates during which alcohol restrictions apply | At all times (24 hours a day, seven days a week) |
Jellie Park alcohol restrictions map
Akaroa
Name of Alcohol Ban Area | Akaroa |
Description of Alcohol Ban Area | All of, or the relevant parts of, the following streets: Rue Lavaud, Beach Road, Rue Jolie, Rue Balguerie up to Muter Street, Rue Brittan, Rue Croix, part of Woodills Road up to and including the milk station turning area, Bruce Terrace from Beach Road to Rue Jolie, as well as the lower part of Stanley Park (from Beach Road to Penlington Place). This includes the following areas: Akaroa Beach and the waterfront area (including any wharf or jetty) from Children’s Bay to Takapunueke Reserve, the Garden of Tane, Waeckerle Green, Reclamation Parking and Slipway Area, Akaroa Recreation Ground, Jubilee Park, Childrens Bay and the War Memorial Grounds. |
Times, days or dates during which alcohol restrictions apply | New Year’s Eve – 5:00pm 31 December to 7:00am on 1 January each year |
Akaroa alcohol restrictions map
Spencer Park
Name of Alcohol Ban Area | Spencer Park |
Description of Alcohol Ban Area | That part of Spencer Park situated on the southern side of Heyders Road, commencing from 71 Heyders Road, Spencerville, and continuing to the beach, including the beach access and car parking areas |
Times, days or dates during which alcohol restrictions apply | New Year’s Eve – 8:30pm 31 December to 6:00am on 1 January each year |
Spencer Park alcohol restrictions map
Riccarton/Ilam
Name of Alcohol Ban Area | Riccarton/Ilam |
Description of Alcohol Ban Area | The area bounded by the following streets as indicated on the map below: Blenheim Road, Curletts Road, Peer St, Waimairi Road, Greers Road, Memorial Avenue, Fendalton Road, Deans Ave and back up to Blenheim Road, includes University Drive but excludes the other private roads on University of Canterbury property. |
Times, days or dates during which alcohol restrictions apply | At all times (24 hours a day, seven days a week) |
Riccarton/Ilam alcohol restrictions map
Okains Bay
Name of Alcohol Ban Area | Okains Bays beach and reserves |
Description of Alcohol Ban Area | The area being the Okains Bay Beach and Okains Bay Road as indicated on the map below. This excludes the Okains Bay Camping Ground and a small parcel of adjacent land owned by the Department of Conservation. |
Times, days or dates during which alcohol restrictions apply | New Year’s Eve - 5:00pm 31 December to 7:00am on 1 January each year. |
Okains Bay alcohol restrictions map
Temporary alcohol bans
Temporary alcohol bans are put in place in appropriate circumstances through a Council resolution.
The purpose of temporary alcohol bans is to reduce the risk of alcohol-related issues occurring in certain public spaces at specific events or particular times of year.
For example, around the Hagley Park Events Centre during the 2011 Rugby World Cup and Cup and Show Week, New Year’s Eve 2011/12 and the Buskers Festival 2012. The Council has introduced temporary bans for specific events in the past, such as the Band Together Concert.
For the period a temporary alcohol ban applies, police have powers to seize alcohol or search people’s bags or vehicles and in certain situations, to arrest people who are found in breach of the ban.
Temporary bans include:
Hagley Park around the Events Centre
A temporary alcohol ban will apply in Hagley Park around the Event Centre during the 2011 Rugby World Cup and Cup and Show Week, over New Year’s Eve 2011/12 and the Buskers Festival 2012. The temporary ban will apply from 7am to 10pm each day during the following dates: 9 September 2011 to 15 November 2011, 31 December 2011, subject to an event being held in Hagley Park, and 19 January 2012 to 30 January 2012.
Map of Alcohol Ban at Event Centre Hagley Park
Papanui
The Temporary Alcohol Ban Area in Papanui, applies until 9 September 2012 for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 6.00pm to 6.00am. See map of ban area.
The proposed area is bounded by the railway line from Vagues Road to Harewood Road, St James Avenue, Blighs Road, Grants Road, Grassmere Street, Main North Road and Vagues Road.
The Temporary Alcohol Ban will apply concurrently with the Northlands Mall Surrounds Permanent Alcohol Ban Area that applies on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 9.00 pm to 6.00 am and which covers the area bounded by Main North Road, Sawyers Arms Road, Sisson Drive, Restell Street and Harewood Road, and also includes St James Park.
Merivale
The Temporary Alcohol Ban Area in Merivale, applies until 9 September 2012 for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 6.00pm to 6.00am. See map of ban area.
There is currently no Permanent Alcohol Ban Area in place for Merivale.
The temporary Alcohol Ban area is bounded by Rossall Street, Rugby Street, Browns Road and Innes Road/Heaton Street.
