Sixty-seven new alcohol licences have been issued in Queenstown in just two years.
The number of places where one can buy alcohol has skyrocketed in the booming resort town, up by 34% in the last financial year compared with 2014-15.
Figures released by the Queenstown Lakes District Council show there are now 259 licensed premises, up from 192.
Council communications adviser Jimmy Sygrove said even if the authority wished to cap numbers, there was no easy way to do so under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.
"[It] would have to be included in a draft local alcohol policy which would go out for public consultation.
"This is not a straightforward process and often presents a number of challenges in high-growth areas such as the Queenstown Lakes district."
Such an alcohol policy appears to have been placed firmly on the back-burner by the council, after some preliminary work in recent years. Senior Sergeant John Fookes, of Queenstown, said nearly all the resort’s police work was alcohol-related.
Most licensed premises were well managed and when there were issues, they were sorted out, he said.
But he had noticed a trend of people drinking in public when the liquor ban was not in effect.
In 2014, the district council introduced a ban covering Queenstown, Frankton, Arrowtown, Wanaka and Lake Hawea between 10pm and 6am every day.
Those hours are extended over Christmas and at New Year and the Winter Festival.
Snr Sgt Fookes said it could be difficult to police when big groups congregated in places such as the Village Green or on the lakefront, as happened on "Crate Day" and Christmas Day.
Social media meant people could quickly relocate, he said.
Last week, Mountain Scene revealed the number of people seeking addiction treatment in Queenstown is also on the rise.
Southern District Health Board figures show 136 people accessed its addiction assessment and treatment service in the area last year. In 2015, 65 people did so.
- Daisy Hudson
