Festival wins right to use glass at event

 A defiant council committee has fended off police objections and backed the use of glass at the Marlborough Wine Festival.

A District Licensing Agency hearing unanimously supported the event's application for a special licence yesterday in council chambers. Police had opposed the use of glass.

Marlborough District Councillor Tom Harrison said banning glass at Marlborough festivals would be too politically correct and dictatorial.

The onus was on festival goers who needed to be socially responsible, Mr Harrison said.

"Do we need to put them in a cocoon so they can't hurt anybody?"

Blenheim police had objected to the applications of the Marlborough Wine Festival, as well as one from Blues, Brews and BBQs, because of a new blanket policy by Marlborough police to reject the use of glass at the events.

Senior Sergeant Naera Parata said the policy was introduced because police held fears for patron safety.

Blues, Brews and BBQs' organisers caved into police pressure and confirmed the switch to a polycarbonate alternative, but wine festival organisers stood fast and took the issue to hearing.

At the public hearing Wine Marlborough board member Ivan Sutherland said that in its 26-year history the event had developed into a premium and iconic day out and he was "horrified" to think plastic glasses could be used.

"This is a promotion of the district's wine ... it's a hugely competitive environment out there and we really have to up the stakes in regards to quality."

He said if the event moved to plastic the aroma and taste of the wine would be seriously affected.

"Plastic glass is unheard of and [the issue] shouldn't be raised again."

Marlborough Wine Festival committee chairman Tim Crawford said accident and emergency staff and security had not reported problems with glass in the past.

A survey of recent wine festivals showed about 25 per cent of those who attended the event came from overseas while 65 per cent were visitors to the province.

As a result he estimated the festival brought about $2 million to the region annually which would be jeopardised if the switch was enforced, he said.

Over the years there had been refinements to ensure a safer environment at the festival, most notably a cap on the number of people attending the event.

This year wristbands would be handed out to those over the age of 18 to better police underage drinking while the number of food outlets had been increased from 23 in 2009 to 30.

"I believe we are being as publicly responsible as we can be," Mr Crawford said. If the event was held on a hard surface he would have qualms about the use of glass, but because it was held on grass there was no need to change.

Ad Feedback Wine Marlborough events and promotions manager Sarah Booker said taking glasses off people as they left was an option, but many liked to keep them as a souvenir.

About 25 security guards were employed and would intervene at the first sign of trouble, Ms Booker said.

Mr Parata said the use of glass at festivals did not reduce alcohol-related harm among a society where "drinking to get drunk is the accepted norm".

Mr Parata also produced polycarbonate alternatives which wine could be served in.
''I enjoy the wine festival, but the police objection is not to do with the wine, it's the safety'' he said.

Marlborough District Council's liquor licensing inspector Garth Congdon recommended the committee support the police stance.

Mr Congdon said he had ''mixed feelings'' about the use of glass at festivals around Marlborough, but having some uniformity would make a no-glass policy easier to enforce.

Changing from glass to plastic was unlikely to curb attitudes to drinking, but it may stop someone being injured,  Mr Congdon said.

Despite his support for the police stance, Mr Congdon indicated Blues, Brews and BBQs might reapply to use glass for their 2011 festival to use glasses preordered for this years's event.