Revellers on party buses in Christchurch will no longer be able to take their own alcohol on board, and will be limited to a maximum of four drinks.
The District Licensing Agency has granted special licences to seven charter-bus operators that will last for 60 days, but with a number of new conditions.
Party buses will be required to have a duty manager on board and will have to sell a wide range of food and non-alcoholic drinks, along with the alcohol.
All drivers and duty managers will have to complete a host-responsibility course.
The agency warned that this arrangement will not be guaranteed on an ongoing basis, and that the applicants should apply for an on-licence within six months.
The decision follows a four-day hearing in April after the police and Christchurch City Council opposed the applications.
Police said the buses dropped large numbers of drunk and violent customers in the city centre.
Good compromise - police
Police in Christchurch say it is unlikely they will appeal.
While they had opposed the bus companies being given special licences, they say the decision is a good compromise.
The officer in charge of Christchurch police liquor licensing, Al Lawn, says he hopes it will reduce the number of drunk and violent customers being dropped in the city centre.
He says one day he would like to see the buses completely alcohol-free.
Bus operators meeting
Party bus companies will consider this weekend whether to appeal against the decision.
Loose Units bus company operator Bob Ellis thinks passengers will come to accept the new rules.
But he says if they become much more restrictive, people will stop using buses and drive from pub to pub themselves instead, causing mayhem.
He will meet with his lawyer and other bus operators on Sunday to discuss the decision.
