10 May 2010

Four-day liquor sale ban in New Caledonia this week

3:18 pm on 10 May 2010

There will be a ban on the sale of alcohol in the New Caledonian capital later this week.

The French high commission and the local councils have decided that from midday on Thursday until midnight on Sunday the sale of alcoholic beverages will be forbidden.

Thursday is a public holiday this year.

A statement says this is to help in the fight against abusive consumption, breaches of public order and to improve road safety.

Bans on the sale of alcohol have repeatedly been imposed in Noumea at weekends for the last two years in a bid to reduce the incidence of alcohol-related crimes.

The restrictions don't apply to hotels and restaurants.