Westpac Stadium's boss is defending the enforcement of drinking rules at this year's rugby sevens, after claims security was heavy-handed.
Some of a group attending yesterday's first day were turned away at the gate by security staff, after they were breath-tested.
One of the men, Paul Churchman, told Tony Veitch on Vietch on Sport using breathalysers on people walking to a rugby match was over the top.
But Westpac Stadium chief executive Shane Harmon said breath tests were only used to confirm if a person was drunk.
"The new Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act came into force in 2014 and what that did was it defined intoxication for the first time. Our security guards look for any combination of two or more of a number of characteristics that can define intoxication," Mr Harmon told ZB.
Those signs included slurring and dishevelment.
Breath tests were not used as part of that assessment.
"It was only provided as an option for patrons if they dispute our assessment."
Mr Harmon said seven breath tests were performed yesterday, often when rugby fans became argumentative about security's assessment of them.
There was no limit above which people wouldn't be allowed in, breath tests were more "a tool for us to show the patron that our assessment of them being visibly intoxicated is correct".
"Eighteen of [Mr Churchman's] party were allowed into the event. Two got turned away."
On the whole, Mr Harmon said there was very little alcohol-related trouble yesterday, a far cry from two years ago when there were 156 breaches of alcohol rules.
"Our licence was cancelled. We now have to apply for a special licence each year. Conditions have to be met to the satisfaction of licence authorities and police," he said.
"We cannot allow people under the influence of alcohol into an event at the stadium."
Training about this was a "substantial part" of preparation for staff, for which the stadium worked with police.
And although crowds were down, Mr Harmon said the atmosphere in the stadium was good, the family zone full and he was taking his own daughters to the sevens this afternoon, something he wouldn't have done in the past.
He said yesterday one person was treated by ambulance staff for intoxication. Two years ago, 24 people were.
Mr Harmon said the sevens' reputation as New Zealand's biggest party led to it becoming the "poster child" for cracking down on drunken behaviour and he said different standards were applied.
"The reality is the event had to change. There was too much intoxication here and around the city. That was clear."
Mr Churchman said the definition of being drunk in public needed to be clarified, because those not allowed into the stadium were able to enter bars for lunch.
He questioned what right a security guard had to breathalyse him when he wasn't in a car.
When he raised that, Mr Churchman said the security guard's response was the stadium was private property and managers could test whoever they wanted.
