Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Street drinking ban for Canterbury orientation week

Updated at 1:33 pm on 17 February 2011

A temporary liquor ban has been imposed on the streets around Canterbury University for orientation week.

The 24-hour ban imposed by Christchurch City Council began on Thursday morning and will end at midnight on 27 February.

It is the first time such a ban has been enforced.

The area covered by the ban is bound by Riccarton, Clyde, Creyke, Maidstone and Waimari Roads in Ilam.

The ban does not include private property, including the university campus itself.

The Ilam Residents Association says the ban should be imposed on a permanent basis.

It was put in place in response to years of complaints from residents about drinking and vandalism in the area.

Residents Association spokesperson Juliana Venning says residents are already noticing a difference.

University of Canterbury Students' Association President Kohan McNab says while students are happy to comply with the ban, they do feel unfairly targeted.

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