Police are keeping track of the 10 most troublesome bars in Christchurch with a ''naughty boy'' list.

The list is based on the number of alcohol-related offences linked to the bars and is updated by police intelligence once a month.

Police have refused to name the bars on the list - officially the ''alcho-link report'' - saying it would be unfair to publicans.

Southern area commander Inspector Malcolm Johnston said bars at the top of the list could be the source of police callouts up to 15 times a month.

Those that regularly featured would get a visit from police, who would advise the pub owners on ways to improve their host reponsibility practices or keep bad clientele away, he said.

''We go and say, 'Listen, you're on our naughty boy list ... if you improve the lighting in your car park, perhaps these thugs won't be hanging around'.''

Johnston said those conversations had ''a very good success rate'' in bringing about improvements.

''The licensees know what we are talking about,'' he said.

He said one rural bar police had been ''at war'' with had ''turned things around'', but it did not always work.

''If somebody doesn't listen or appear to take on board our concerns, we take action,'' he said.

Inspector Craig McKay said the list was also based on the number of a bar's patrons who came to police attention later in the night.

It was one tool of many police used to monitor problem premises and reduce alcohol-related harm, he said.

Others included covert or overt vists to the premises, notes from callouts or visits by alcohol licensing inspectors.

''We use it as a guide,'' he said.

McKay said the list was not foolproof. Larger premises, even those proactive on host reponsibility, were more likely to feature on the list simply because they had more clientele or could be the last stop on people's way home.

The intelligence also identified smaller bars that were over-represented by people leaving the premises and either committing or being the victim of crime.

''If you are consistently over-represented on that list, you would probably have a police visit,'' he said.

''Generally, if the licensee has good host responsibilty practices, they don't come up on the list that often.''

- © Fairfax NZ News

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