News

The new liquor laws currently being proposed by the Dunedin City Council have received a severe backlash from bar owners in the North Dunedin community. The aspects of the regulation that appear the most controversial are a 3am bar close-time, a 1am start to the one-way door policy, a prohibition on shot sales after midnight, and the clearance of outdoor seating as early as 11pm.

Critic spoke to Rob Dale, who has “been involved with student bars in Dunedin for over 20 years now” and currently owns Capone, Boogie Nites and Urban Factory. Dale told Critic the greatest threat to his bars is “definitely the one o’clock one-way door policy … we’d lose 80 to 90 per cent of our turnover.” He said he would “absolutely” be forced to close the three businesses if the legislation were to pass. Dale said, “I’ve got 40-odd staff, it’s terrible that we’re basically being run out of business … there’s not a single business model that I could see working for us under these regulations.”

Students who regularly attend the premises on weekends voiced their concerns to Critic regarding this possible outcome. First-year student Brodie O’Loughlin said he “goes to Boogie [Nites] and Capone at least once a week … [and that] if they closed then we’d all just have to go to the Octagon, [which] would get crazy crowded.” Tom Lindsay said these premises “are some of the only bars open on a Thursday, if they closed we would have no other bars to go to.” Both students agreed that the legislations would not stop them drinking, they would instead seek alternative areas.

Dale believes the legislations will cause more harm than good if they are passed. He said, “It’s naive to think people will drink less just because the bars aren’t open … it’s more likely that people will take the ten or so dollars that they would spend at a bar and instead buy drinks at the liquor store, leading them to be more drunk with less supervision.” He further commented, “Students, especially first- and second-years, are drinking down here [in Dunedin] unsupervised for the first time.” Dale believes, “If [Dunedin] doesn’t have places that can responsibly monitor these students, it’s more likely that people will be put in more danger than necessary.”

In regards to student safety in all three of his premises, Dale said he “has multiple measures in place to ensure patron safety.” He said “We check for intoxication upon arrival, we have staff who are solely employed to check for intoxication throughout the premises, and we have a host responsibility policy in place which takes many different safety factors into account … the list goes on.” Dale said he currently owns all bars that are open past 12 o’clock and “cannot remember a time when there has been a serious injury in a student bar. You can’t say that for student parties.”

Over the past few weeks, bar staff in Dunedin have been wearing “Save Dunedin’s Nightlife” t-shirts to show their stance on the issue. A “Save Dunedin’s Nightlife” Facebook page has also been created, which now has over 3,000 supporters. Members of the page argue that the DCC is “punishing those that go out and enjoy themselves” instead of “those that are causing the issue.” Another member noted, “If a venue offers substantial and significant entertainment at 4am with behaviour remaining social, that venue should be allowed to continue that.”

“What we’re trying to do is show the council that the vast majority of young people in Dunedin are seriously against these new rules … the people who aren’t probably haven’t been into a safe licensed premises like ours,” said Dale.

A survey has also been vigorously shared on Facebook that asks students for feedback on their experiences with Dunedin Nightlife. Titled “Public Survey on Dunedin LAP,” the survey asks individuals for feedback on Dunedin’s safety at night time, the entertainment provided in Dunedin bars, what time individuals arrive at and leave bars, whether they drink at home before going to town, individual opinions on when bars should close, and whether individuals agree or disagree to each rule the DCC is proposing.

OUSA has also jumped on board with opposing the regulations. Leading the opposition is OUSA Finance Officer Paul Hunt, who has been attending the Dunedin City Council meetings in regards to the legislations. Hunt has also taken to Facebook by creating an event, “Opposition to the proposed DCC Local Alcohol Policies.”