A spat between the authorities and lower Octagon bar owners
has started over a promotion offering patrons a discounted
taxi home if they buy six drinks in four hours.
The authorities say the promotion, which covers the period
between 7pm and 11pm on Thursdays, breaches the Sale of
Liquor Act by encouraging patrons to drink excessive amounts
of alcohol.
But the bar owners believe it complies with the Act and are
seeking a legal opinion.
Following discussions with organisers from the Lower Octagon
Licensed Forum, police, the medical officer of health and the
Dunedin City Council district licensing authority met on
Wednesday, but decided it was too late to stop the promotion,
called "Octagon Alive", going ahead last night.
District licensing inspector Tony Mole said the forum was
notified that if the promotion was held again next week, as
advertised, the district licensing authority would be forced
to take action against the bar owners.
The authorities were unaware of the promotion until he saw
the advertisement in the Otago Daily Times last week,
Mr Mole said.
The same day, he emailed a letter expressing his concerns to
lower Octagon bar owner and forum member Phil Ellis.
His concerns related to patrons being rewarded for buying six
drinks in one evening, when the Alcohol Advisory Council
suggested women should drink no more than four standard
drinks on one occasion, and men no more than six, Mr Mole
said in the letter.
"The promotion is encouraging patrons to engage in unsafe
drinking practices."
He received a response from another forum member and bar
owner, Grant Ellis, on Tuesday, saying the forum did not
believe it was breaching any laws and the promotion was
designed to attract more people to the area.
The letter said the forum believed it was a responsible group
and its members were offended by the implication they were
acting in an illegal, anti-social and non-professional
manner, Mr Mole said.
He had received several complaints about the advertised
promotion from members of the public and was aware the police
had been approached by a Law Commission representative, who
expressed similar concerns.
The Dunedin police liquor licensing officer could not be
reached for comment yesterday afternoon.
Forum spokesman John MacDonald said the group met yesterday
and opted to seek legal advice before making any decision
about the promotion.
Bar owners had been conscious of their host responsibility
when designing the promotion, which was why drinks could be
non-alcoholic, it was limited to a few hours only, the drinks
had to be from six different bars and it promoted getting
home safely.
They intended to obtain legal advice before next Thursday.
Mr Mole said if the forum had asked him about the promotion
before going ahead with it, "this whole situation could have
been avoided".
"I'm here to give advice."
debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz
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