The Bluff Oyster festival risks alcohol license over the preference for glass

The popular Bluff Oyster and the food festival are likely to lose their ability to sell alcohol after digging their toes in drinks over the glass.

Running almost every year in 2008, the southern food festival attracted over 4000 people in the small town for a day of oyster and entertainment.

But next week he is facing a hearing after hitting a speed blow with his alcohol demand due to security issues and the desire to sell glass drinks.

A report by the Licensing Inspector of the Intrcargill Local Council said that the Police had previously advised that the next request of the festival would be opposed if they were included.

The police gave this promise, saying that the material presents a risk due to its breaking and potential for use as a weapon.

“The applicant does not offer the safest possible environment by selling alcohol in glass containers and showed a little emphasis on their responsibility, wishing this,” said Hayden McNaught, the Damage Prevention officer.

Also, the police were an exception from the fact that the event is employed with eight security staff, saying that this number is too few.

The lack of supervision at the points of entry and exit last year was highlighted as an area of ​​concern.

The festival agreed to increase the security number from eight to 10, but it remains determined in its desire to sell glass alcohol.

This was despite the fact that he agreed with a police request for preserves and plastic cups to be used at last year’s festival.

“This is a more recent request and due to our short time interval to host the event of 2024, we did not oppose ourselves,” said the festival committee.

“We consider that the recent change without any evidence of the problems of violence at our event is not necessary.”

The request was neither opposite by Health New Zealand nor by the Bluff Community Council.

Also, the licensing inspector did not oppose it, but mentioned that the request does not comply with the law on the sale and supply of alcohol or the local alcohol policy.

He made a series of recommendations, including alcohol to be sold only in canned and cups, continuous entry monitoring, without alcohol to leave the place and sound levels to remain within the council limits.

Minutes after a debate following the 2024 festival shows, the organizers were disappointed that someone managed to bring a bottle of wine to the event through an unmanned entrance.

The festival returned last year after a two -year -old hiatus because of Covid and problems with a nearby hotel, which has since been demolished.

This year’s festival will take place on May 24, with the hearing session for Wednesday.

The police said that the request of the applicant to want to use glass was that the customers were not dissatisfied with the canned drink.

LDR is the local journalism co-financed by RNZ and NZ on Air.