Latest news with #alcoholpolicy
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Cruise expert issues major warning for unruly passengers
A cruise expert has issued a warning to Britons as more than 2.4 million passengers are to set sail this year. Many cruise guests opt to pay for an unlimited alcohol package with their holiday. But there's a key mistake that could cause holidaymakers to have their travel insurance voided. Mark Barton, cruise expert at travel insurance provider Avanti, says: 'Cruise holidays are meant to be relaxing, but some guests can treat the unlimited drinks package like a personal challenge - and that's when trouble starts. 'What many don't realise is that any medical emergency that's alcohol-related such as injuries, falls, or even alcohol poisoning, could void your travel insurance, leaving you to foot a medical bill. 'That could leave you facing thousands of pounds in medical costs abroad and even being removed from the ship at the next port.' Travel insurance often won't cover injuries which could have been caused by alcohol. Passengers could also see themselves removed from the ship or even put in the ship's brig, an onboard jail, if they break the rules due to drunken behaviour. Mark adds: 'All ships have dedicated security personnel onboard who operate 24/7. These security officers are trained in crowd control, conflict resolution, and emergency response, so they'll be on hand to step in should any passengers become rowdy due to excessive drinking. 'If a passenger does become disorderly, or poses a risk to others, security officers might escort them back to their cabin, or even temporarily confine them in a holding area, if necessary, until they sober up.' So, while it might be tempting to indulge in an all-inclusive package, it's important not to drink too much. And if it's another passenger's drinking is causing concern, Mark has urged guests to 'report' the behaviour. He says: 'If you're faced with a drunken passenger and can't see any staff around, look for an emergency phone, which is located around the ship, to report the location and behaviour. 'Never try to physically intervene or argue, as your travel insurance may not cover any injury sustained during a physical altercation. It's always best to let the ship's trained staff handle it.' Drinking can also cause passengers to become dehydrated which could be dangerous onboard the ship.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
Around the motu: Tim Brown in Christchurch
Canterbury 44 minutes ago Yanfei Bao's killer has been sentenced to at least 17 years in jail, a mental health patient has been sentenced to life in jail over the murder of Frances Phelps, the Christchurch community have had their say on the council's new alcohol policy draft, the large diesel spill at Christchurch Men's prison was caused by the hatch of a fuel tank being left open, and the Crusaders are hosting the Chiefs for the Super Rugby Pacific final this weekend. Tim Brown is a RNZ Christchurch reporter.
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Christchurch community have their say on council's new alcohol policy draft
Council staff confirmed the draft LAP would not affect the remote sale of alcohol. Photo: 123RF Wayne Hawker tearfully recounted losing his former son-in-law to alcohol abuse while calling on the Christchurch City Council to clamp down on liquor sales in the city. The Christchurch man recalled his family's pain during a hearing on the council's draft local alcohol policy (LAP). The council had proposed ending alcohol sales at off-licence premises - such as bottle shops and supermarkets - at 9pm, as well as introducing a moratorium on new bottle stores in deprived areas and restricting their proximity to schools and addiction services. Current trading hours in the city were 7am to 11pm. Hawker was among the 415 people, businesses and organisations who made submissions on the council's proposal. On Wednesday, he told councillors he lost his former son-in-law to alcohol abuse and easy access to alcohol destroyed lives. "Our daughter... lost someone she thought was her soulmate. Our three grandchildren... 12, 10 and 8 at the time, lost their father. It can be squarely blamed on alcohol," he said. He urged city councillors to further restrict liquor sales, saying supermarkets did not need to sell alcohol as early as 7am. During the hearing, councillors heard varying views from community board members, alcohol harm advocates, business leaders and members of the public. Alcohol Healthwatch executive director Andrew Galloway commended the council on its draft LAP, but called for restricting premises to 9am opening and rules which prevented new stores from clustering in the same areas. Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Community Board chair Paul McMahon supported the proposals, but urged councillors to further restrict new bottle shops in high deprivation areas to prevent them from becoming "stacked up on the edges" nearby. He also asked councillors to consider restricting alcohol deliveries via apps like Uber Eats. Council staff confirmed the draft LAP would not affect the remote sale of alcohol. Hospitality New Zealand central South Island regional manager Nikki Rodgers said the organisation supported the council's draft LAP. "We particularly appreciate the clarity around off-licence provisions, acknowledging the freeze on new licences, while still allowing new renewals and licences upon change of ownership. This provides essential certainty for existing operators and future investors," she said. Deputy mayor Pauline Cotter asked Rodgers what she thought about McMahon's proposal for greater restrictions in high deprivation areas. Rodgers said it would be hard to put such a restriction in place, given potential population growth. Foodstuffs South Island head of retail Kent Mahon said nine of the company's 18 Christchurch supermarkets would be affected by the 9pm closing time. The changes might lead to stores closing at 9pm, he said. If those stores were to remain open after 9pm, customers might be confused by the rules, leading to staff being abused as a result, Mahon said. "A customer loads up their shop, there's a bottle of wine in there at 9 or 8.58pm, and they can't process that whole transaction through," he said. "We all read the media, and there is abuse towards staff in our stores. Those staff would need to manage that inconsistent messaging." Councillor Sara Templeton. Photo: screenshot / Stuff Councillor Sara Templeton said apart from the potential for conflict for supermarket staff, it did not sound like the changes would have much effect on the stores. Some Super Liquor operators also addressed their concerns with the LAP. Super Liquor Ilam and Hornby co-owner John Symon told councillors he would willingly support closing stores at 9pm, so long as the council put those same restrictions on alcohol deliveries. "It seems ludicrous that on a remote licence you can supply alcohol up to 11 o'clock at night," he said. He supported the idea of preventing new outlets from opening in high deprivation areas, so long as it applied to supermarkets, and said he supported the idea of a 500-metre buffer zone around those areas. Super Liquor Holdings' national operations manager Greg Hoar said delivery drivers should be restricted from delivering alcohol at the same time stores were shut. The company did not agree with restricting new outlets based on deprivation, Hoar said. He described the approach as "one-sided", since the LAP would not put the same restrictions on on-licence premises or new supermarkets. "You have to be 18 to enter into an off-licence premises or with a legal guardian, yet you can walk past outlets or through a liquor section of a supermarket without being questioned," Hoar said. "We have clean sites with no branding of beers, RTD and wines on our buildings, yet I can walk past an on-licence premises and see people smoking and drinking outside with happy hour signs, or waltz into a supermarket." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Guardian
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trust no one when it comes to ID cards
Polly Toynbee posits a world in which everyone has a smartphone and all government agencies can be trusted (Digital ID cards would be good for Britain – and a secret weapon for Labour against Reform, 9 June). What colour is the sky in this world?Linda MockettWinnersh, Berkshire Am I the only one thinking about Sellafield and wondering by what stretch of the imagination nuclear power can be called 'clean' (Sizewell C power station to be built as part of UK's £14bn nuclear investment, 10 June)?Dr Nigel MellorNewcastle upon Tyne This year, I received my 50 years' service badge from Aslef – a couple of years late, but we are train drivers, after all. During my career, I always 'worked on the railway', never on the trains (Letters, 8 June). Malcolm SimpsonSalisbury, Wiltshire So is an airport a plane station or a runway station?Colin ProwerChipping Norton, Oxfordshire I am sick of hearing calls to raise the price of alcoholic beverages (Letters, 8 June). This would have little or no effect on the middle and upper classes, but would punish those on lower incomes. What next? A rise in food prices to deal with the obesity problem?Noel HannonLondon Damned bold of Dave Schilling to assume Elon Musk and Donald Trump ever had anything like friendship, as opposed to plans to exploit each other (Male friendship isn't easy. Just ask Trump and Musk, 7 June).Brandi WeedWoodland, California, US Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill allowing 'social districts' in NH communities awaits governor's signature
A bill on Gov. Kelly Ayotte's desk awaiting her signature is creating quite a buzz around the state. HB467 would allow cities and towns in New Hampshire to establish 'social districts' — areas where people are allowed to purchase alcohol at local bars and restaurants, then take it with them in a to-go cup while moving through designated 'sip and stroll' areas. State Rep. Bill Boyd, R-Merrimack, told members of the state Senate Commerce Committee he modeled HB 467 after legislation in North Carolina, working closely with Chief Mark Armaganian, director of the New Hampshire Liquor Commission's Division of Enforcement and Licensing. 'It's a local-option bill,' Boyd said. 'Should this be enacted, if communities want to have a social district, they can do so, and they can work with liquor enforcement and their local law enforcement to create a plan that makes the best sense for that community.' Voters would have to approve creation of a social district at town meeting or a city election. Local officials would determine the boundaries of the social district, then work with the liquor commission and the state to be able to make sure that all requirements under state law are met and develop a working plan to ensure safety in the district. Brodie Deshaies, a legislative advocate with the New Hampshire Municipal Association, said the association supports the bill. 'We've had members reach out in the past and contact us about how they could set up a process like this,' Deshaies said. 'There was nothing that currently permitted towns to adopt these types of districts or to allow people to carry open containers between businesses that are all in close vicinity of each other. 'We view this as a great private/public partnership, and the state helping fulfill its role to help create guidelines — or guardrails — along that process.' Gauging interest It's unclear how interested businesses in places like Manchester are in establishing social districts — at least at this time. Owners of several downtown businesses along Elm Street seemed indifferent about the concept when quizzed this past week. Jodie Nazaka, Manchester's economic development director, said her department doesn't have a position either for or against HB 467. 'I haven't had any businesses or aldermen express interest in establishing this type of district in Manchester,' Nazaka said in an email. 'If there were general interest from business owners in the downtown area, we would certainly look into the merits of the concept.' Nazaka said she has seen social districts successfully implemented in other areas of the country, including Raleigh, North Carolina, which she experienced last summer. 'There are definitely rules and restrictions associated with these districts, so they're not as unrestricted as some might imagine, like Bourbon Street in New Orleans or the Las Vegas Strip,' Nazaka said. 'I'm interested in seeing where this conversation may lead. For now, at least to my knowledge, there isn't much interest in pursuing this in Manchester.' Boyd said communities like Raleigh and Savannah, Georgia, have had 'tremendous success' with social districts. 'There's so many different types of social districts that exist now today, in Georgia and North Carolina and Michigan, the creativity as to what can happen as a result of this particular concept can only benefit the economic development of a particular community that seeks to create it,' Boyd said. Boyd said Tuscan Village in Salem has its own social district, which operates on private property, but they worked closely with Armaganian and the liquor enforcement team to come up with something that makes sense for the site. 'Government-sponsored drinking' Not everyone loves the idea of social districts. Bob Bevill of Merrimack, a justice of the peace in Hillsborough County, submitted testimony via email opposing the bill, calling it 'government-sponsored 'pub-crawling'' that will create an enforcement burden on towns, could increase liability premiums for some businesses, and provides 'absolutely no benefit to the taxpayers.' 'Based on similar legislation from North Carolina, these 'zones' would allow for specially-marked alcoholic beverage cups to be transported out of the bars and restaurants' where people 'may freely walk from place to place carrying their alcoholic beverages in public,' Bevill writes. 'These cups would be 'containers (that) clearly displays a logo or some other mark that is unique to the social district in which it will be consumed.' Hence, government-sponsored drinking.' Bevill asked who would be responsible for determining if a customer has been overserved in a social district. 'In most establishments, it is the waitstaff or barkeep who has a running tab and knows exactly how much alcohol has been purchased,' Bevill writes. 'But between zone businesses? If someone has too much to drink and kills a family, do we apportion the damages against all of the merchants in the social district? Or do we have to investigate which establishment served them last?' Margaret Konze of Pembroke was short and to the point on the subject. 'We don't need more public drunkenness in New Hampshire.' Drew Cline, president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, spoke before the Senate Commerce Committee in support of the bill. He said he often visits his hometown of Hickory, North Carolina, which has a downtown social district. In the past, it was 'always the same thing, looking around at the vacant storefronts,' Cline said. 'Last year I went back, and I am not exaggerating, there is not a single vacant storefront in downtown Hickory, North Carolina. In the entire downtown. 'Hickory is a mill town, it was a textile and furniture manufacturing town — this might sound familiar to a lot of people in New Hampshire — and not a single vacant storefront.' pfeely@
