Solomon Tor-Kilsen said he was trying to get a youth centre or ideally an arcade up and running, so youth had more to do in Timaru.

A youth advocate wants to reignite debate about off-licences selling alcohol, saying young people "pre-loading" in Timaru are causing havoc and putting themselves at risk.

Solomon Tor-Kilsen, founder of the Timaru Youth Initiative, said not only alcohol-related hospital admissions but people growing angry after being turned away from pubs were issues in Timaru.

"[T]he local binge-drinking culture is encouraged by cheap alcohol available from off-licences which enables 'pre-loading'," Tor-Kilsen said in a submission to the council. "The bylaws regarding off-licences should be much stricter."

MYTCHALL BRANSGROVE/FAIRFAX NZ The Sail and Anchor owner Barney Cahill agreed, saying older drinkers did not come out as often, but they were likely to be "more aggro".

A council response to Tor-Kilsen's submission said alcohol sales were a national rather than a local issue, and suggested he take it up with the Rangitata MP.

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Tor-Kilsen said alcohol was "definitely" something he intended to take up with newly-elected Rangitata National MP Andrew Falloon.

He had been working as a youth mentor and helping youth since he was a teenager himself, and the under-30s, and in particular the under-21s, were most at risk from pre-loading.

"That particular age bracket is where people need the most guidance. That is the time we see people killing themselves drinking."

Speight's Ale House co-owner Nigel Bowen said pre-loading was always an issue, but not always confined to one particular age group.

The Sail and Anchor owner Barney Cahill agreed, saying older drinkers did not come out as often, but were likely to be "more aggro".

Cahill said he regularly had to turn people away because they were drunk - only to have them congregate outside the door - and sometimes he also had to turn people away because they were on drugs.

The obvious answer, as far as he was concerned, was to ban the sale of alcohol in supermarkets, but he realised that was never going to happen.

Hospitality NZ South Canterbury president Kristy Phillips, co-owner of Zest Restaurant, said any environment allowing for uncontrolled or unmonitored consumption of alcohol was concerning

However Foodstuffs South Island chief executive Steve Anderson said buying alcohol with food was a responsible way of shopping.

"Only supermarkets offer this balance," he said.

"[T]here are many restrictions on where alcohol can be located in a supermarket, as well as how it can be advertised.

"Our stores work extremely hard to comply with the regulations in order to offer a range of wine and beer to our customers"

Councillor Steve Wills, who is also a senior constable in the Timaru police, said Timaru's issues were reflected "right throughout the country" and if people were determined to drink before they went out they would.

Grosvenor Hotel manager Charlotte Herd thought young people might change their drinking habits if there were more activities available to them - but that would take time, she said.

Tor-Kilsen agreed having little to do possibly played a role in young people's drinking habits.

The Youth Initiative holds events for young people, and in the future wanted to get an arcade up and running. In the meantime, it was important to try to to change the nightlife.

Sergeant Geoff McCrostie, of Timaru Police, said while police were definitely aware of people pre-loading before going into town, he thought Timaru's bar scene was better than it had been in the past because there was less competition.

Alcohol Action South Canterbury group member Dennis Veal said most on-licences in Timaru provided "safe and responsible" places for people to drink.

However off-licence outlets where "cheap alcohol is aggressively advertised and can be purchased all day from 7am to 9pm" were of concern.

"Another issue is for addicts who find it difficult to shop for food when every [s]upermarket and many food outlets are licensed."