A decision to have one licence for all alcohol vendors was welcomed by the Alexandra Blossom Festival committee.
In June, the Central Otago licensing committee declined the Alexandra Blossom Festival a special liquor licence, which led to a district licensing committee hearing last month.
This week the committee released its decision — approving one licence for all vendors in Pioneer Park.
Last year each vendor had to get their own licence, which limited the committee’s control. Regardless of who held the licence, each vendor was required to have a duty manager on site.
Festival manager Martin McPherson said he was very pleased with the decision.
"The festival now has hands-on control of our venue."
At the hearing Mr McPherson reiterated the festival was not about alcohol, and had always been designed around the idea of a family day out.
People came into the park, got lunch and a beer or wine and sat at the tables to watch the entertainment.
Alcohol was secondary to the crowning of the festival prince or princess, the floats and the entertainers.
Festival committee chairwoman Sharleen Stirling-Linsday said the festival was proud of its management of alcohol sales.
"Last year’s changes to the licence limited our ability to manage unwanted behaviour from punters and vendors," she said.
Mr McPherson said this year’s Saturday in the Park food and beverage sales would be no different from previous years.
A wide variety of international food flavours — including Thai, Mexican, Filipino, South African and South American — would be available, along with the traditional whitebait patties, pizza and hot dogs, accompanied by eight vendors offering Central Otago wine and beers, he said.
