21 April 2004
All but a handful of Christchurch bars and licensed premises will close at midnight on Saturday night under the Sale of Liquor Act.
Licensing Sergeant Alistair LAWN says that unless they have a Special License or an exemption such as for a wedding or birthday they must close at midnight.
"By midnight the majority of inner city bars and licensed premises will be closed and will not reopen until 1pm on Sunday afternoon," he says. "However premises will be open before 1pm for the express purpose of dining."
Checks will be made by police and the District Licensing Authority to see if establishments are complying.
There are expected to be extra people in the city after the rugby game and they should expect the bars to close he says.
There are only three and a half days a year when bars are required by statute to close.