The Dunedin City Council is looking at a possible ban to tackle broken glass in its student quarter – but legal and practical questions could stand in the way.
Shattered glass has littered the streets of the city's student flats for decades.
"A lot of my classmates end up getting cut feet when we come out during O Week," one former student said.
Over the years, the Otago University Students’ Association has implemented ways to tackle the issue, including banning alcohol in glass bottles at events, running street cleans, and asking students not to buy glass vessels.
They've also asked liquor stores for help.
"If you walk in though, the cans are all at the front and you've got the bottles that tend to be at the back, so that's the bottle shop owners themselves encouraging students to go and buy the cans," president's Daniel Leamy said.
But in a first for New Zealand, the city’s new policy could remove glass bottles entirely from alcohol stores near the university and polytechnic.
Dunedin city councillor Lee Vandervis said staff working at the hospital's Emergency Department had encountered many people coming in with “quite serious damage to their feet” due to broken glass.
It was also an issue for motorists and cyclists whose tyres have been damaged after driving through the area.
Liam Davies of tyre shop Treads Dunedin said his son had to have several tyres replaced over the years after living on Hyde St, a "really, really bad area for glass".
"It is just such a drama. I wouldn't drive my vehicle down through there," he said.
While a glass ban had been raised in past council reviews, it had never been included due to practical and legal issues. The council said it was now seeking legal advice on implementing a possible ban.
But bottle store owners told 1News some products only came in glass bottles and a ban could conflict with franchising and advertising agreements. Drinkers could also shop elsewhere to circumvent the ban.
“It's not going to stop you from not going to the supermarket, which is an extra block away, to go buy bottles if you want bottles," Leamy said.
The alcohol policy was still being drafted, with formal submissions and hearings still to come.
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