A bid to stop beer being served in cans during the 2011 Rugby World Cup has failed.
The tournament will be hosted by New Zealand from 9 September to 23 October.
Police and the Minister of Police Judith Collins had pushed for beer to be served in disposable cups due to public safety concerns and that cans could be used as missiles.
However, Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully has decided that canned beer can be sold at all 13 match venues.
Mr McCully says the decision was not made because of pressure from Heineken, the principal sponsor of the tournament.
The minister told Morning Report on Tuesday most spectators will choose not to get drunk for fear of losing their seats.
"I think we've got to a pretty sensible compromise that on one hand, trusts people who are paying a lot of money for their tickets to behave in a reasonable fashion, and gives the police the capacity to deal with those very few who might step out of line."
Mr McCully says it would have cost a significant amount of money to install wet-pour bars in the nine stadia which do not have them.
The cost of installing wet pour facilities at Eden Park, where many of the important matches will be played, was estimated at $1 million alone.
Police Minister Judith Collins says rules and processes will be put in place to ensure the public's safety and police are happy with the compromise that has been reached.
However, the Alcohol Advisory Council says it is very disappointed at the decision. ALAC, along with police, had wanted money spent on venue infrastructure that would allow for wet pour bars.
