Beach-goers build sand island to avoid booze ban

A group of New Zealanders came up with an ingenious way of avoiding a beach booze ban this past New Year’s Eve by building a sand island in the middle of an estuary at low tide.

Credit: Facebook. Tairua ChitChat

The group built the structure at low tide in the Tairua estuary on the Coromandel peninsula on the North Island east of Auckland on New Year’s Eve, and then installed a picnic table and ice box for drinks to carry on their celebrations, according to reports by New Zealand website stuff.co.nz.  

Locals joked that they were in “international waters” and therefore exempt from an official liquor ban that is imposed on shore. A ban on public drinking is in force in Coromandel over the New Year period with those violating the ban at risk from a $250 (£130; US$180) fine or arrest. However authorities took a light-hearted view of the stunt.

“That’s creative thinking – if I had known [about it] I probably would have joined them,” said local police commander Inspector John Kelly when told about the sand island.

Thames-Coromandel Mayor Sandra Goudie also praised the group adding: “That’s the one thing I absolutely love about the Coromandel: the inventive nature of the people. It’s about creativity, the legal reality is somewhat different.”

The group remained on the makeshift mound into the evening, enjoying the New Year fireworks, with the sandcastle still intact on Monday morning.