The Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Bylaw 2018 came into force on 18 December 2018.
Download a copy of the Christchurch City Council Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Bylaw 2018 [PDF, 2.5 MB].
This bylaw provides for alcohol ban areas where people, within the specified areas, times and days, are not allowed to:
Please note that a breach of a ban area is an offence and that the Police may issue an infringement notice (instant fine).
The Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Bylaw 2018 came into force on 18 December 2018.
This bylaw prohibits the consumption of alcohol and restricts the possession and carriage of alcohol in some public places within the Christchurch City Council district (called Alcohol Ban Areas).
In Alcohol Ban Areas, the consumption of alcohol is not generally allowed in public places (such as parks, footpaths, riverbanks, beaches or roads), but is allowed on private land (such as licensed premises or private residences).
The possession or carriage of alcohol in public places in Alcohol Ban Areas is limited by this bylaw and the Local Government Act 2002, and is generally only allowed when transporting, carrying or delivering alcohol through an area.
A breach of this bylaw is an infringement. This bylaw gives the Police the power to seize alcohol, to search people’s bags and vehicles (in certain situations), and to arrest people found to be breaching the bylaw.
This bylaw should be read together with the Local Government Act 2002 (in particular sections 147-147C, 169 to 170), as the Act contains further information on bylaws made for ‘alcohol control purposes’. Relevant parts of the Act are not included in this bylaw in full, but are referred to where necessary.
This bylaw does not cover matters related to licensed premises or any matters already covered by the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.
Pursuant to the powers vested in it by section 147 of the Local Government Act 2002, the Christchurch City Council makes this bylaw.
Act | means the Local Government Act 2002 |
Alcohol |
has the same meaning as ‘alcohol’ in section 5(1) of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 and section 147(1) of the Local Government Act 2002, and generally means alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine and spirits (including pre-mixed spirit-based drinks). |
Alcohol restrictions | means the restrictions imposed by clause 7(1) of this bylaw. |
Council | means the Christchurch City Council. |
Event |
means any meeting, parade, concert, fair, celebration, festival, function or sporting or cultural event, commemoration, or other similar occasion, or a series of such occasions. |
Large scale event alcohol ban area |
means an area described in Schedule 2 in which alcohol restrictions are in place in the public places within the area and during the times specified in the Schedule. |
Licensed premises |
has the same meaning as ‘licensed premises’ in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, and generally means premises licensed for the sale or consumption of alcohol. |
Permanent alcohol ban areas |
means an area described in Schedule 1 in which alcohol restrictions are permanently in place in the public places within the area, during the times, days or dates specified in the Schedule. |
Public place | has the same meaning as ‘public place’ in section 147 of the Local Government Act 2002; and means a place that is open to or is being used by the public, whether free or on payment of a charge, and whether any owner or occupier of the place is lawfully entitled to exclude or eject any person from it; but does not include licensed premises. |
Special license | has the same meaning as ‘special licence’ in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, and generally means a licence granted under part 2 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 for the sale and supply of alcohol during an event or series of events. |
Temporary alcohol ban area | means an area described in a resolution made under this bylaw in which alcohol restrictions are temporarily in place in the public places within the area during the times, days or dates specified in the resolution. |
any event held in a public place at which alcohol is served under a section 38 endorsed licence under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.
Some of these exemptions require the alcohol to be promptly removed from any public places covered by alcohol restrictions.
The Council may consider a dispensation under the Council’s General Bylaw so that the restrictions in an Alcohol Ban Area do not apply for the duration of an event. However, if there is a risk of alcohol-related harm occurring as a result of the restrictions not applying, the event must comply with the Council’s policy “Alcohol-related Harm at Public Events - Policy to Reduce”. The policy requires effective joint planning between Council staff, the Police and other groups to reduce alcohol-related harm and to care for any people affected by alcohol.
The Police have powers of search in all Permanent and Temporary Alcohol Ban Areas, as indicated in sections 169 and 170 of the Act.
When using the search powers, the Police must comply with certain conditions. However, if the power in clause 9 of this bylaw is used, the Police can search immediately and without notice.
There are 17 permanent alcohol ban areas.
The following contains maps, area descriptions and the times, days or dates during which the alcohol restrictions apply to permanent alcohol ban areas.
On New Zealand Trotting Cup Day (the second Tuesday in November each year) from 9am to 10pm.
Download the Addington alcohol ban area map [PDF, 1.7 MB]
The area bounded by the following streets:
New Year’s Eve from 5pm on 31 December to 7am on 1 January each year.
Download the Akaroa alcohol ban area map [PDF, 956 KB]
All of, or the relevant parts of, the following streets:
This includes the following areas:
At all times, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Download the Central city area map [PDF, 3.7 MB]
The area bounded by and inclusive of:
Seven days a week from 10pm to 7am.
Download the Hagley Park alcohol ban area map [PDF, 2.7 MB]
The greater Hagley Park area, including:
Note: this area runs adjacent to the 24-hour Central City alcohol ban area, but only applies from 10pm to 7am.
The streets or relevant parts of the streets that bound this area are as follows:
The sections of the Avon River that form a boundary to the ban area are:
At all times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Download the Jellie Park alcohol ban area map [PDF, 805 KB]
The whole of Jellie Park, excluding the Jellie Park Pool Complex.
The ban extends to include Greers Road and Ilam Road.
At all times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Download the Linwood Village Area map [PDF, 315 KB]
The area bounded by the following:
Seven nights a week from 6pm to 6am.
Download the Merivale alcohol ban area map [PDF, 1 MB]
The area bounded by and inclusive of all of, or the relevant parts of:
At all times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Download the New Brighton alcohol ban area map [PDF, 450 KB]
The area generally including New Brighton Mall, Marine Parade and the New Brighton beach area.
New Year’s Eve from 5pm on 31 December to 7am on 1 January each year.
Download the Okains Bay alcohol ban area map [PDF, 173 KB]
The area being the Okains Bay beach and Okains Bay Road. This excludes the Okains Bay Camping Ground and a small parcel of adjacent land owned by the Department of Conservation.
Seven nights a week from 6pm to 6am.
Download the Papanui alcohol ban area map [PDF, 1.6 MB]
The area bounded by and inclusive of all, or the relevant parts of:
At all times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Download the Riccarton-Ilam alcohol restrictions map [PDF, 7.5 MB]
The area bounded by the following streets:
The ban area includes Ilam Primary School and University Drive, but, excludes any land forming part of the University of Canterbury campus and shown as excluded areas A, B, and C.
Applies from 7am to 12 midnight, Saturday of Cup Week (New Zealand Cup Day).
Download the Riccarton Racecourse alcohol ban area map [PDF, 2.8 MB]
The ban covers the area bounded by both sides of the following streets:
Applies while the fields are in use for rugby league between 3pm to 8.30pm on Monday to Friday, and between 9am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday each week, from 1 April to 31 August each year.
Below are current sports fields allocated to rugby league to which the alcohol ban applies.
In addition, during all games and training sessions, alcohol ban signage will be displayed at the sports fields.