Dunedin city councillors were sent a clear message yesterday - extending the liquor ban to North Dunedin would not, on its own, change the student drinking culture.
But those who supported the move said it was one of the few options that could be done quickly and would start to tackle the issue of excessive drinking.
Opinions about whether to extend the CBD ban to North Dunedin were divided and submitters, including the Otago University and Otago Polytechnic students' associations and the youth action committee told Crs Kate Wilson, Andrew Noone and Colin Weatherall, who were hearing submissions on the council proposal, they were opposed to the idea.
They said it discriminated against North Dunedin residents, would be ineffective, risk a negative perception of the student experience at Otago, and would push the problem into flats and out of the public's eye without dealing with it.
On the other hand, Dunedin police, the University of Otago and Public Health South said extending the city's inner-city liquor ban would give police the ability to be proactive in the way they dealt with students and would be seen as doing something about the issue.
Submitters on both sides agreed it would be pointless if the move was not part of a wider strategy targeting a culture of excessive drinking, a national issue highlighted in Dunedin with so many young people living in a small area.
Other solutions needed to include moves like raising the price of alcohol and the drinking age and restricting access to alcohol.
"A liquor ban would help, but I don't think any of us should be under the illusion it will solve the problem," Dr Marion Poore, of Public Health South, said.
A ban should be part of a package of responses that were highlighted four years ago in a local assessment of the health impact of alcohol.
"It is 2012 now and, with respect, doing nothing is no longer an option and it is past time for the council to demonstrate leadership on this issue," Dr Poore said.
Asked by Cr Wilson if the city should not use every tool it had when it had them, Otago Polytechnic Students' Association spokesman Mark Baxter argued a liquor ban was a knee-jerk reaction and essentially only "window-dressing" while the bigger issues, such as easy access to alcohol, went unaddressed.
Supporter of the ban extension Josh Eyre said someone would die from alcohol-related harm in Dunedin if people kept waiting to do anything.
He was one of several submitters who said landlords had to be held more accountable for the behaviour of their tenants with regards to large parties.
Asked if she thought the council was better to impose a liquor ban now or wait until it reviewed its alcohol plan, University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne said it was usually best to bring in any changes together, as the literature suggested introducing one measure at a time was not particularly effective.
Extending the ban to include the entire city would send a clear message that the city took the problem of alcohol-related harm seriously for all citizens, not just students, she said.
The committee will deliberate on the submissions in public next Wednesday.
