Late-night arrests in Queenstown mainly booze-related

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Only 12,000 people live in Queenstown full-time – but during peak ski season, that number can swell to 75,000

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 6:05p.m.

Queenstown Police have released some startling figures: 96 percent of people arrested after 10pm in the first two weeks of August were affected by alcohol, and after 2am, that figure rose to a 100 percent.

Only 12,000 people live in Queenstown full-time – but during peak ski season, that number can swell to 75,000.

Holidaymakers say Queenstown’s nightlife is an important reason to visit; bar owners disagree that drinking is out of control.

“I think a lot of the issues, if there are any, that we deal with is that people are pre-loading in their flats and their houses and apartments, their hotels, they’re pre-loading on cheap supermarket booze – that’s the issue,” says Goodbars Group director Russell Gray.

Leanne Malcolm spent a night with the police to see if things really are as bad as they seem – watch the video

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Comments [5]

Neal otter

18 Aug 2010 4:24a.m.

I don't see pre-loading as too much of a problem, nor do I see the behaviour of these "offenders" as the result of poor management of a licensed premesis. The streets are seldom monitored by the police in a way that acts as a deterrent. People come to queenstown to "party". As a township we welcome these people and the positive effects they have on our economy but in an area partly made famous for the late night social life, why should we be denied appropriate funding to keep a police presence on our streets??? I fear that if we continue to restrict the services on offer here, we may lose the interest of our clientele. (not ideal for the country's main source of tourism during winter months!!)

Nick

16 Aug 2010 11:44a.m.

Funny how the guy from Good bars is trashing the Supermarkets for their cheap booze. When Mr Goodbars owns bettys liquor they are the WORSE offender and cause of the people 'loading up' as he calls it LOL

Nikki

16 Aug 2010 12:56a.m.

Funny how all the drunken idiots were kids. And they want to leave the drinking age at 18.
How many aged 30 or even 25+ drunken morons did you see in that video. Because I didn't see any!

Alex

15 Aug 2010 9:12p.m.

The issue is actually not pre-loading on cheap supermarket drinks... the issue is that these people arrest are unable to control their own behaviour when they drink.

cyril

15 Aug 2010 6:36p.m.

Why are you surprised? apart from thieves there is very little reason to arrest anybody at this time of night other than alchol related things in Queenstown.