Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department Dr Martin Than says the cost of alcohol-related admissions shouldn't have to come from the public purse.

Binge drinking in Canterbury is costing hospitals millions a year – money one emergency department doctor believes shouldn't be coming from the public purse.

Dr Martin Than, of Christchurch Hospital, says there should be a discussion about whether bars with late-night opening hours should contribute in some way to the cost to emergency services.

Hospitality New Zealand (HNZ) has refuted the idea, adding there was no evidence that most of the harm was directly linked to bars in the central city.

Dealing with people who presented at emergency departments (ED) with alcohol-related issues, a particular problem over the weekend, took resources away from other patients and caused disruption for staff, Than said.

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"International research shows late-night opening hours are associated with greater stress on emergency services, both police, ambulance and hospital emergency services, and we need resources in order to be able to deal with that."

A 2014 article in the New Zealand Medical Journal said between 2006 and 2011 alcohol-related admissions in Canterbury increased from 16,220 patients per year to 19,180, costing the district health board about $80 million.

The trend does not seem to be letting up. Research released in 2014 showed alcohol contributed to 28.7 per cent of ED attendances at Christchurch Hospital between 11pm Saturday to 8am Sunday.

"We all want to have a city that's vibrant, but we shouldn't deny that there is a consequence of having late night drinking establishments in the metropolitan city centre," Than said.

"Do we really think the costs created should come from the existing health budget, and if not – where should we get them from?"

Than pointed to events organisers who had to include on-site medical services if there was a risk to public safety as an example of how businesses were already shouldering similar costs.

"It's obviously ridiculous to put a doctor in the bar," he said, but queried whether a cost to emergency services could be included in the licence for bars seeking late-night opening hours.

HNZ South Island area manager Amy McLellan-Minty claimed 80 per cent of all alcohol in New Zealand was sold and consumed away from on-licensed premises.

"We do not accept that inner-city bars in Christchurch are a majority, or even high, contributor to alcohol-related presentations," she said.

"There have been many surveys completed in Christchurch, both pre and post-earthquake and most individuals questioned had consumed at least 10.4 drinks before coming into town, and this is where the problem lies."

Than acknowledged there was a debate about whether pre-loading or bars were to blame, but said in his experience those who presented to the ED had been drinking in inner-city bars before being admitted.

McLellan-Minty said late-night premises already paid higher licensing fees and were closely monitored by police. The idea of any extra charge was an ill-informed suggestion, she said.

"This is yet another example of bars being unfairly and unjustly targeted and blamed, when the real problem lies with home and public place-based drinking."

Under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, bars had to meet strict regulations. A trained duty manager had to be present, while intoxicated people could not be served alcohol or even allowed onto the premises.

McLellan-Minty said HNZ members took their responsibilities seriously and the industry body encouraged people to take personal responsibility to ensure they were not causing alcohol-related harm.

Moves to restrict the opening hours of bars in central Christchurch were scrapped last month after city councillors voted to abandon a Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) that took more than five years and $1m to develop.

Councillors called for a new LAP to be developed and operational within 18 months.

Current settings, as outlined under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, allow on-licences to sell alcohol between 8am and 4am and off-licences to sell between 1am and 11pm.