The hospitality industry suggests instant fines for people who are publicly drunk could be a useful tool in the battle against binge drinking.
One industry leader says he is preparing to submit his thoughts to a formal review of New Zealand's liquor laws.
The Law Commission says that, over 20 years, amendments to the Sale of Liquor Act have diminished its coherence. A comprehensive review is under way.
Hospitality Association chief executive Bruce Robertson says he has had no response from the Government to repeated calls to fine people who are drunk in public.
He says the time has now come for the onus to be shared between publicans and the public.
Mr Robertson says enforcing instant fines for drunkenness should be no harder for police than fining for breaches of city liquor bans.
