Bike pub crawl debate time

Months out from the day, the future of Hawera's push bike pub crawl is up for debate again.

The floor will be open for the public to have its say on whether or not a liquor ban covers the pub crawl's route this year.

The South Taranaki District Council is being asked to consider the idea after it hears from interested parties in an open forum.

A working party made up of reprepresentatives from the council, police, district health board, national transport agency and pub owners couldn't agree on a booze ban so it has put it to the council to make a decision.

Last year extra seats were brought in to accommodate the public who came to speak on a proposed bylaw allowing police to confiscate alcohol in between pubs.

The meeting in November saw the police application for a booze ban on the pub crawl route rejected 6-4 by councillors.

The main opposition at the time was that councillors and speakers couldn't see how police could enforce a ban.

The pub crawl happens on the final Saturday before Christmas and has been running unofficially for more than 30 years.

Over the past few years it's grown to cult status, attracting about 1600 people.

The push bike pub crawl safety working party has met twice this year to nut out improving safety and reducing alcohol consumption but support for a liquor ban was not unanimous.

Usually a group puts an idea to the council having a clear position but the working party would not be applying for a liquor ban, rather asking the council to consider it with public input.

The meeting is on September 13 at 1pm at the council chambers in Hawera.

- © Fairfax NZ News