Council staff want the ban lifted in the old Galton’s car park and the nearby area between 4pm and 9.30pm on December 31, as has been the case in previous years.

But this would be against the advice of Maitland police, who say that lifting the ban would only make officers’ jobs more difficult on one of the busiest nights of the year.

Police said suspending the ban in recent years had confused punters about where they were allowed to drink in public and had given underage people the false impression they could avoid police by drinking in the CBD party zone.

The lack of a person or organisation directly responsible for the behaviour of the crowd gathered in a public place was also one of the range of concerns that police raised. 

The Mercury can understand both sides of the argument. 

Year after year, police see the ugly side of New Year’s Eve by having to deal with incidents involving intoxicated people.

Of course they would not want the rules to be relaxed.

But council wants to allow people the chance to sit on the river bank and responsibly enjoy a beer or glass of wine with family and friends to ring in the new year.

There were nine alcohol-related arrests in the Maitland region during the 2013 new year celebrations, which was up from the previous year.

If councillors vote tomorrow night to lift the ban, it will be a display of trust in the community to behave responsibly, so the onus will be on the community not to abuse that trust.

READ THE STORY: Council to ease NYE alcohol ban restrictions | POLL