Don’t Stop Ltd applied for an on-licence last year. At a public hearing in December it was blasted by opponents who called the proposal unacceptable, unsuitable, unsafe and inadequate.
In its decision, publicly released yesterday, the district licensing committee said it considered as "nonsensical and unfounded" the applicant’s argument his proposed new model would reduce risks the agencies were worried about and provide greater supervision of people moving between bars.
That was based on evidence provided showing the "inappropriate behaviour" on Beercycles operating in Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch without on-licences, including social media posts depicting intoxicated patrons, people vomiting into gardens, pushing bikes in traffic and running behind them.
Founder and chief executive Nick Wilson introduced the Beercycle to Queenstown in August.
Up to 15 people can sit around a table and help pedal, while the bike itself is steered by a dedicated driver.
The company operates two-hour tours around the CBD, during which guests stop at four or five licensed premises.
The committee said Mr Wilson made a number of changes to the proposed activity and supplied documentation in the final stages of the hearing to satisfy the application requirements and gain approval.
That included a new "40-40-40" model, under which guests would first spend 40 minutes biking, during which time they could consume up to two cans of beer.
Then they would spend 40 minutes at a licensed premises, which he labelled a "mid-tour sobriety stop" and finally another 40 on the bike, where they could have two more beers.
Mr Wilson submitted it would be the safest, most structured and most controlled version of the Beercycle in its operation history.
He said passengers would drink less and more slowly, would remain seated, be supervised at all times and subject to strict drink limits that did not exist for ordinary bar patrons walking between venues.
He considered the proposal would improve amenity and good order by taking groups, who otherwise walked between bars unsupervised, off the footpaths and on to the supervised Beercycle.
The committee disagreed.
"In his closing submission, Mr Wilson’s diffuse assertion was that his proposed operation would be safer and reduce the impact on amenity and good order compared to what people can do now, as he would provide supervision and control consumption more so than the existing licensed bars," chairman Lyal Cocks said in the decision.
However, "contrary to his view", people drinking on licensed premises were supervised and consumption — indoors and outdoors — was managed, while people walking between bars in the Queenstown CBD were not permitted to consume alcohol.
The committee was also not convinced the applicant had appropriate systems, staff and training to comply with the law.
"In summary, the applicant is proposing to have up to 15 people ride on the Beercycle through narrow streets (often congested) of the Queenstown CBD, buying and consuming alcohol in an alcohol-free area and passing by a large number of licensed premises in a high-risk public area.
"We do not accept that this can be undertaken safely and responsibly based on the history of the applicant’s operation and the proposed systems/structure he provided us at the hearing."
A separate application by Mr Wilson for a duty manager’s certificate was also declined due to his lack of experience controlling the sale and supply of alcohol.
