Crackdown on boozy older women

Middle-aged women preloading on wine are causing issues at Dunedin concerts, police say.

In an effort to crackdown on drunkenness, evident before the Six60 concert held at Forsyth Barr Stadium earlier this year, city officials have introduced a temporary liquor ban around the stadium.

That comes as 30,000 punters are expected to attend Fleetwood Mac playing under the roof tomorrow night. Alcohol harm prevention officer, Sergeant Ian Paulin, had a message for those who preloaded and turned up intoxicated: ‘‘You won’t get in.’’

Examples from previous Dunedin concerts showed the problems of intoxicated punters was predominantly middle-aged women ‘‘who drink a bottle of wine and misjudge their preloading’’, he said. Those concertgoers were denied entry. They often got aggressive, but needed to understand the venue was licensed premise and intoxication was not allowed, Paulin said.

Security personnel would assess people before arriving at the gates, he said. To help counter people preloading, a 24-hour liquor ban has been introduced around the stadium from noon tomorrow. That includes a large part of Anzac Ave, Union St and Logan Park Dr.

Anyone who breached the bylaw was liable for a fine of $250.

Gates for the concert open at 6pm, with the band expected on stage at 8pm.

The NZ Transport Agency said a third of all ticket holders were travelling from Christchurch, and State Highway 1 was expected to be busy. Peak travel period was expected between 3pm- 6.30pm today, and from 10am on both tomorrow (into Dunedin) and Sunday (away from Dunedin).

Dunedin concerts showed the problems of intoxicated punters was predominantly middle-aged women.