Folks In New Zealand Built Themselves A Lovely Little Island To Get Around A Drinking Ban

(BBC) — A group of New Zealanders has constructed a sand island in coastal waters, seemingly in a creative attempt to avoid a ban on drinking in public places. The group built the structure at low tide in the Tairua estuary on the Coromandel peninsula on Sunday afternoon, reports said. They then installed a picnic table and ice box for drinks. Locals joked that they were in “international waters” and thus exempt from an official liquor ban. The group drank into the night on New Year’s Eve, watching the fireworks, reported New Zealand website stuff.co.nz – and the construction was still intact on Monday morning. A ban on public drinking is in force in Coromandel over the New Year period and those violating the ban face a fine of $250 (£130; US$180) or arrest. But authorities seemed to be taking the initiative in light-hearted spirit. “That’s creative thinking – if I had known [about it] I probably would have joined them,” said local police commander Inspector John Kelly when told about the sand island.

Don’t get me wrong I’m proud of the good people of New Zealand for being inventive and getting past this silly “drinking ban.” Much like high school kids they had a goal, to get drunk, and they figured out how to achieve it. They didn’t go to the woods or a golf course or an empty house, as most prepubescents prefer, but they took it a step further and basically became explorers, of sorts, creating their own new world. A sovereign nation where the beer flows like wine and the police can’t do a thing about it. A tip of the nationally accurate cap to these folks.

But who in the world did the politicians and police of Coromandel think they were trying to being prohibition to New Zealand of all places? I don’t really know a whole lot about that island so please humor me while I make some, in all likelihood, very ignorant statements. There are no laws whatsoever in New Zealand and you really thought the first one to try and implement was no alcohol? We’re talking about a place where you can marry a feral goat if you so choose, a place where murder is handled like it was in the Wild West with the sheriff simply taking your gun, New Zealand was the inspiration for “The Most Dangerous game” as human hunting is legal there, it’s Australia’s Australia. New Zealanders dance in a more intimidating fashion than most people fight, and you’re gonna try and tell those people that they can’t have a beer on New Year’s Eve? You’re a bunch of sickos. Of course this was never going to work. Some people decided to build a new continent, everyone else just ignored your rules because they’re from New Zealand and do what they want so it just made for a more difficult night for your officers. Stupid all around.

Except the Buzz Aldrin’s of alcohol addiction, they were cool.