Auckland’s Eden Park authorities ban full-strength beer in stadium

AUCKLAND - Full-strength beer has been given the boot from Auckland’s Eden Park for the upcoming Twenty20 international and the one-day series against Pakistan.

The ban comes as fall-out continues from ugly scenes that marked November’s rugby league double-header - including punch-ups in the stands and fans hurling plastic bottles at Australian players.

Eden Park Trust Board chief executive David Kennedy said that only low and mid-strength beer would be sold at the Boxing Day Twenty20 clash between New Zealand and Pakistan, and their February 5 ODI.

Kennedy however said that the disgraceful scenes at the November 6 league double-header was not the reason for the full-strength beer-ban.

“It [the ban] is something that fits with NZ Cricket’s brand and image,” Stuff.co.nz quoted Kennedy, as saying.

“All of the things we learnt from the 6th of November games, we will have in place for the cricket season. We will have no tolerance for people who either arrive intoxicated or try and get intoxicated while they are here,” he added. (ANI)