Case stronger for 2am closing

A Queenstown police officer said yesterday the reason police want to see 2am closing for licensed premises was clear over the opening weekend of the Queenstown Winter Festival as 34 people were arrested for a variety of offences.

"Without wanting to be the grinch, police have been pushing for 2am closing and the timing of these incidents certainly doesn't persuade us otherwise," Sergeant Brian Cameron said.

Although not as bad as previous years, alcohol-fuelled "levels of idiocy" have remained high at the Queenstown Winter Festival, with 23 arrests for violence, theft and disorder and a further 11 for drink-driving, Sgt Cameron said.

The offending - between the festival's launch on Friday night and late yesterday afternoon - was largely alcohol-related and including arrests for assault, theft and vandalism.

A 17-year-old female from Cromwell and a 15-year-old female from Invercargill were arrested for assault just before midnight on Friday after allegedly punching two people in the face.

On Saturday at 2.45am a 35-year-old Queenstown man was arrested for assault after allegedly punching a man in the face in Queenstown Mall.

Two intoxicated Queenstown men, aged 36 and 52, were arrested at the Dux De Luxe bar Church St just after midnight Saturday after being warned by the bar's duty manager for their unruly behaviour. The duty manager was then allegedly assaulted while a security guard was spat at by one of the men.

A 23-year-old woman was arrested at 4.15am Sunday for assault after allegedly slapping the doorman at Searle Lane's Cowboy bar in an argument about her friend being ejected for drunkenness.

"It's very easy to dwell on the negative but on the whole people behaved responsibly and had a good time but unfortunately we tend to have to concentrate on the few idiots who spoil it for everyone else but drink-driving is down, idiocy seems to be down but is still prevalent," Sgt Cameron said.

A 23-year-old Frankton woman was arrested and charged with drink-driving after being breath-tested at 1006mcg - 606mcg over the legal limit - at 9.30pm on Friday. Sgt Cameron said the woman's breath-alcohol level was "ridiculously high", leaving police "disgusted."

He said 4500 vehicles were stopped and police were further discouraged by the fact that 10 of the 11 arrests for drink-driving involved locals.

"It's stupidity. There's nothing new in drink-driving legislation. People need to grow up quite frankly. It's not acceptable that people are going out drinking and driving. Queenstown is a small place ... they know how far town is, they know how much a taxi is - perhaps they could spend a little less money on booze and take some responsibility," Sgt Cameron said.

The majority of the people arrested at the weekend will appear in Queenstown District Court today.

- matt.stewart@odt.co.nz