Alcohol Control Bylaw
The Alcohol Control Bylaw allows the council to maintain control areas where alcohol bans apply in the Far North District. The purpose of the bylaw is to reduce crime, disorder and incidents of harm due to the consumption of alcohol in public places. There are currently 23 alcohol control areas in the Far North District.
View a map of the alcohol control areas
The Alcohol Control Bylaw 2018 has been made under the following Act(s):
- Local Government Act 2002
Next review date: 13 December 2033
See the Alcohol Control Bylaw 2018 here.
Frequently Asked Questions
The purpose of the Alcohol Control Bylaw is to address problems of crime, disorder and incidents of harm associated with the consumption, bringing in and possession of alcohol in public places. The bylaw allows the council to establish alcohol control areas where alcohol bans apply. These areas are where high levels of crime and disorder have occurred relating to the consumption of alcohol in public.
The Alcohol Control Bylaw is enforced by the Police. Within the alcohol control areas, Police have the power to:
- Search peoples’ vehicles, bags and packages for alcohol
- Seize and remove any alcohol
- Ask offenders to leave an alcohol control area
- Issue infringement notices to offenders with a fine of $250
- Arrest those who commit offences or refuse to comply with police requests.
The Police have complete discretion to enforce the bylaw. They are not obliged to act if they witness alcohol consumption which they do not consider involves actual or potential alcohol-related crime and disorder.