MSN NZ
find
going out
Directors urged to improve work safety
news at a glance
advertisement


FIND
Jobs Search Jobs $100k+ Jobs Dating Single men Single Women Cars New cars Used cars Ticketek My Ticketek Venues
Readers recommend...
VIRAL VIDEOS
Sooky cat likes to be tucked inSooky cat likes to be tucked in Cat sleeps with a neck pillowCat sleeps with a neck pillow Really depressed catReally depressed cat
Hot Topics on MSN NZ:
Porirua train crash Northland shooting Beckham

BYO booze banned at Boxing Day races

08:30 Thu Dec 16 2010
MSN NZ
BYO booze banned at Boxing Day races

NEW ZEALAND — Those looking forward to carrying a full chilly-bin to the Boxing Day races will have to think again.

This year, for the first time, punters at Ellerslie Racecourse will not be allowed to take their own alcohol to the course, the New Zealand Herald reports.

Auckland Racing Club chief executive Chris Weaver told the NZ Herald the crackdown was a result of booze-fuelled incidents in Auckland and was in line with other events' policies.

"It would have been one of the last major public events that you could bring alcohol to," he said.

"You'd have to be living on another planet not to know that alcohol has been an issue in Auckland over the past year."

Weaver said the fully licensed event would still be a great day out with with themed bars being set up.

People will still be able to bring their own picnic equipment and barbecue.

Professor Doug Sellman, from the National Addiction Centre, said it was an excellent move.

"It's decreasing the amount people will drink and the less people will drink, the less aggression you'll get," he said.

What do you think of BYO alcohol being banned at Boxing Day Races? Have your say.

User comments
Totally agreed with the idea of stop them BYO. From the past experience dealing with drunken before and after they ' enjoyed' the races. It finally comes to the best solution from creating more alcohol abuser.
AS USUAL, we are let down by a certain bunch of individuals, who make it difficult for the rest of society to go along and enjoy ourselves. It's not rocket science, if you can't fit in with the rest of society, then fit OUT.
I must admit we have( like always) abused the system. New Zealanders dont know when to stop (well a large portion) and it has ruined it for the rest who drink responsibility. You go to see the races not get drunk. Get over it !!!!
Whether or not they're doing it to make their lives easier or to make money (and a bartender serving you drinks is less likely to get you off your face drunk than 10 six packs shared between 10 people especially if a few only want a couple). It is THEIR choice. It is the choice of the people taking liability for the drunken idiots putting themselves in danger. When you hear about these drunken incidents the second thing you hear is "Why did Ellerslie let it happen?" Being able to BYO to this event isn't a right, it's a privilege that the race track has chosen to revoke because of the minority. And on terms of kicking out the drunken disorderlies, they do do that, when they manage to spot the disorderly being disorderly and catch them in the crowds.
Make no mistake, this is simply a tactic to make it a more profitable day for the Auckland Racing Club. If youbBelieving anything different your kidding yourself
I have been going to those races every year since i was a litttle kid, now 22 i am obviously also drinking, and from previous events also know that you can ban alcohol and people still find a way to get it in and also plan on getting wasted before they get there, which means there are going to be more people wasted and causing trouble before the day starts than normal! There is always going to be a few people that ruin it, but there is a larger number of people celebrating and enjoying their time! As said, its a way for them to make more money and the 'trouble caused in Auckland' is a good excuse to blame the ban on.
New Zealanders attitude to alcohol is the same as Americans attitude to guns! They think it's a right to be able to get *** where they want when they want and how dare anybody challenge that right! We need to learn to be able to have a good time without relying on a mind altering substance!
what ever the reason for the ban on byo to the races its a good idea it seems that 90 percent of newzealanders cant handle their alcohol we see it time and time again just need to watch police ten seven so yep about time i say. but even a limit to a few beers or 1 bottle of wine may work. but allowing people to bring in excessive amounts of alcohol is just plain dumb
Sound the Last Post someone please. NZ as we have known it has been hijacked completely and utterly, by the pious 'we know best', politically correct ***. This is indeed a sad day for the ordinary NZér. To be told how to live and how to behave. I'm sad to say, they can kiss attendance at the races goodbye, for a huge section of NZérs. Tut tut tut.
I'm with Annoyed, this isn't about dealing with a drinking problem, it is entirely motivated by money. Why, if they were tackling the binge drinking culture of Auckland from the back of their culturally enlightened high horses, would they still fill the venue with bars? Ridiculous.

Most popular videos
Two Killed By Massive TornadoTwo Killed By Massive Tornado Grisly Details Of Burning Death RevealedGrisly Details Of Burning Death Revealed Man Dead In Northland ShootingMan Dead In Northland Shooting Four Injured After Wellington DerailmentFour Injured After Wellington Derailment Should Houses Have A Capital Value?Should Houses Have A Capital Value?