25 convicted for alcohol ban breaches

Twenty five people were convicted in the Palmerston North District Court of swigging alcohol in the city centre where booze is banned.

Most of the offenders had pleaded guilty on the night of arrest and were not required to be at court yesterday.

Most of the breaches occurred on The Square on Friday and Saturday nights, with 10 people arrested last weekend.

Five of the offenders convicted yesterday were aged 17 – the legal drinking age is 18.

Earlier this week, police announced a zero tolerance approach to revellers flouting the liquor ban after a spate of assaults in The Square in the early hours of weekend mornings.

A fine of $75 was given to 17 of the offenders as it was their first offence.

Others received fines of up to $600 because they had previous alcohol-related offences including drink driving.

Gary Peter Calkin, 38, of Palmerston North was fined $400 for breaching the liquor ban on February 26 on Rangitikei St.

It was the unemployed man's third breach in less than 12 months.

Palmerston North gardener Shaun Michael Hill, 26, received a fine of $600 for drinking alcohol on The Square.

He was convicted of breaching the liquor ban at the end of last year.

The liquor ban area includes the intersection of Grey St and Princess St, south to Ferguson St, west to Pitt St, north to Cuba St, east to Bourke St, north to Walding St, and east to Grey St.

- © Fairfax NZ News