Get Into It, Not Out of It

If you’re drinking, be sure to get into it, not out of it.

That’s the message from local agencies which have launched a campaign for sensible drinking in licensed premises in the lead-up to the festive season.

“We want people to enjoy themselves while socialising, but not to drink so much that they’re drunk and not in control,” says Police Liquor Licensing Officer Constable Meryn Wright.

“Managers of licensed premises who sign on to this programme will be helped to develop the tools they need to deal with intoxication, encourage moderate drinking among their customers, and make their bars a safer and more social place to be.”

The Get Into It, Not Out of It programme is being promoted by New Plymouth Police, with the support of NPDC’s District Licensing Agency, Taranaki District Health Board and the Taranaki branch of ACC.

The programme has been running successfully in Christchurch for 10 years.

The key message is that intoxication will not be tolerated in licensed premises, says NPDC Manager Customer and Regulatory Services Martin White.

“Intoxication is neither acceptable nor legal in licensed premises,” he says.

“We want to make moderate drinking the norm.

“The important message to bar customers is if they start to drink too much in bars the staff will intervene and offer drink alternatives, and patrons will not be allowed to stay in the premise if they become intoxicated.”

Intoxicated patrons from licensed premises in the New Plymouth area are responsible for a significant percentage of weekend offending, causing harm to themselves and others as well as damaging property.

Patrons from bars are also over-represented in drink driving incidents and vehicle crashes.

“Drunk patrons are bad for business,” says Mr White.

“We are helping bars become safer and more social places to drink, and less tolerant of drunks.

“That will have a flow-on effect of making the city’s CBD a more pleasant place for the public.”