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.
After this incident, vigilance by bar staff for intoxicated patrons increased.
The event, despite being well managed, was basically an "all day drinking session", he said.
"Stab In The Dark believe they comply with the Act [Sale of Liquor Act]. The agencies doubt that they do."
Sgt Pitcaithly said if the event was sanctioned by the authority, he would apply to the New Zealand Transport Agency to have the speed limit in the area reduced temporarily to 30kmh during the event.
Dr Holmes said the Cook-a-thon had become "embedded in student lore as an opportunity for excess consumption of alcohol".
He said Dunedin Hospital's emergency department dealt with an increase of patients aged between 15 and 24 on the day of the event compared with Wednesdays before and after the event.
During the latest event he was "appalled to see semiconscious, drunk students lying throughout the department".
During the event, 437 classes were held at the university and students were being distracted from their studies.
Stab In The Dark counsel Trevor Shiels, will make submissions today.
