Napier residents will still be able to dance the night away. 

The City Council has rejected a proposal that would force bars to close an hour earlier – at 2am instead of 3. 

It was part of the city’s draft Local Alcohol Policy. 

Councillor Richard McGrath told Heather du Plessis-Allan that though they had evidence that connected alcohol and trouble, there didn’t seem to be a correlation between that and age. 

He says that in the same time period, there was roughly an equivalent amount of harm in a suburb with two alcohol licenses as there was in the suburb with the nightclub – an area that has up to 30 licenses.  

McGrath says that in his view, there’s no evidence its the clubs and pubs causing the problems as opposed to off-licenses and house parties.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Napier residents will still be able to dance the night away.&nbsp;
The City Council has rejected a proposal that would force bars to close an hour earlier – at 2am instead of 3.&nbsp;
It was part of the city’s draft Local Alcohol Policy.&nbsp;
Councillor Richard McGrath told Heather du Plessis-Allan that though they had evidence that connected alcohol and trouble, there didn’t seem to be a correlation between that and age.&nbsp;
He says that in the same time period, there was roughly an equivalent amount of harm in a suburb with two alcohol licenses as there was in the suburb with the nightclub – an area that has up to 30 licenses. &nbsp;
McGrath says that in his view, there’s no evidence its the clubs and pubs causing the problems as opposed to off-licenses and house parties. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Richard McGrath: Napier City Councillor on the rejected proposal to close bars an hour earlier

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/55ca11f0-d44b-48a3-ae2e-b2d1005456a6/transcript