'Hatred' of Cook-a-thon driving bid to axe pub's licence

"I have always hated the Cook-a-thon. I have been trying to figure out, over the years, ways to stop it," Dunedin District Licensing Agency inspector Tony Mole yesterday told a hearing considering the renewal of the Captain Cook Tavern's liquor licence.

The hearing, which began before Judge Bill Unwin of the Liquor Licensing Authority in Dunedin, heard four objections. They were from liquor licensing Sergeant Wayne Pitcaithly, Otago and Southland medical officer of health Dr John Holmes, Dunedin resident Dr Gene Harris and Mr Mole.

The tavern's Cook-a-thon event had been the subject of recent criticism, as increasing numbers of intoxicated students attended the event.

Today, the University of Otago, represented by student services director David Richardson and proctor Simon Thompson, will also object to the licence renewal.

Mr Mole said the the Cook-a-thon event, which had been run since September 1999, was originally held only once a year.

However, last year, the event was held three times.

Until this year, students would pay $20 for entry to the bar, a T-shirt, a 12oz beer and three meals. That was changed to two meals this year.

The licensees applied for renewal of their licence in October last year.

Mr Mole said he had no significant issues with how the inside of the premise was run; his issue was with students having "pre-parties" before the Cook-a-thon, then queueing for up to two hours to enter.

Portable toilets and road barriers had to be used, and surrounding businesses had complained about students using their toilets or urinating on walls. The Cook-a-thon queues were the biggest he had seen at a licensed premises in Dunedin.

Mr Mole and Sgt Pitcaithly advised Richard McLeod of Stab In The Dark, the company which owns the tavern, in February this year that the Cook-a-thon could not continue.

Since then, two events have been run, with most of the aspects of the Cook-a-thon, but without the name.

"For what was initially just another pub promotion, the Cook-a-thon has become bigger than Ben Hur," Mr Mole said.

It could no longer be tolerated in its current form.

Sgt Pitcaithly said police had to roster on additional staff, and 12 extra were needed for last month's event.

One patron he removed from that event was swaying, walked into a pole and had slurred speech.