The move by Wellington City Council to impose a blanket liquor ban across the city is a sad, but necessary move. While some might see it as another example of Nanny State policies, the truth is that the council is taking a stand against the kind of behaviour that is causing the majority of alcohol-related harm and that is doing damage to the hospitality trade generally.

It’s a shame that people cannot control themselves enough not to stagger drunkenly around the suburbs of our capital, fighting, swearing and generally annoying their neighbours. It’s a shame that the conditions were allowed to arise that gave rise to such behaviour, especially easy access to cheap liquor. It’s a shame that bars were blamed for alcohol-related crime when the vast majority of perpetrators were mashing their brains on carry-outs

And it’s a shame that it fell to a local authority to try and address the issues rather than a Government that has been long on law and order rhetoric, but sadly short of any action. Instead, the Government has been trying to impose its “Rugby World Cup Party Central” on Auckland’s waterfront, a commercial development that would provide competition to already-established venues in the city.

The project – that could well have cost more than $100 million – was never going to be a success. It was window-dressing from a Government under pressure to be seen to be doing something and will forever remain a political joke to match the idea that building a cycle path was New Zealand’s way out of recession.

Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about Party Central anymore, thanks to an unusually sensible decision made by the Auckland mayors, who said no to forking out hard-earned cash for something that would merely replicate what already exists in Auckland. Any major new entertainment quarter in central Auckland would have impacted on bars and restaurants in the Viaduct and Britomart and would also have had an effect on farther-flung areas such as Parnell village and even Ponsonby Road.

Building a brand new area for people to get hammered in while watching the rugby – because that is precisely what would have happened - would also have sent a strange message from a Government that says it is serious about addressing the alcohol issue. So let us raise a glass – for once – to local councils. Too often they are pig-headed, interfering, overcharging nuisances, but every now and then they show a flash of genuine genius and they should be acknowledged for that.

Agree? Disagree? Let’s have your opinion.

Send to Don.Kavangh@tplmedia.co.nz