Drunks to blame

Blaming the demise of the Wellington rugby sevens on the socalled ‘‘fun police’’ is as fatuous as it is specious.

Responsibility for the situation belongs with the over-intoxicated patrons who exhibited crass behaviour that other patrons had no real alternative but to suffer.

The World of WearableArt events, which could be thought of as the sevens without the rugby, do not need fun police. People who attend these events, including those who drink alcohol, know how to behave. As far as I am aware, there’s no talk of moving these great events elsewhere.

Perhaps John Bishop (Letters, May 25) should spend a few hours accompanying police in Courtenay Place or with staff in the emergency department at Wellington Hospital on a Friday or Saturday night.

While he’s there watching the ‘‘outrageous behaviour’’ (his term) of the excessively intoxicated, I further suggest he reflects on how much of our (taxpayers’) money and professionals’ time is being wasted treating these idiots, resources that would be much better used for those with genuine needs.

The real cause of the decline of patronage of the sevens lies squarely with those unable or unwilling to recognise when having a good time had crossed the boundary and their actions had become offensive and objectionable. TONY DAVIDSON Tawa

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