NZers were responsible

3 News reports:

Allowing bars to open during Rugby World Cup games didn’t turn the country into the drunken shambles that had been predicted, say the backers of the law change that made it possible.

Police communication centres today said the local aftermath of the All Blacks win over Australia in the Rugby World Cup final in London was quiet.

A law change was made two months ago to allow bars to open early during the tournament, rather than having to apply for special licences. Under the changes, hoteliers had to give police seven days’ notice they would be open.

The change was enabled by a bill from ACT’s sole MP David Seymour, who watched the final at a bar in Auckland’s Mt Eden.

He was happy there had been no major problems and it showed New Zealanders were actually responsible people.

It does.

But there is a bigger lesson about this, and over-regulation.

The current law would have seen far fewer bars able to open, far fewer NZers able to watch the games with their friends, and all sorts of ridiculous requirements and hoops for bars to jump through. And these extra costs would have produced no benefits, as it turned out that actually most people do the right thing.

So let this perhaps be a lesson the next time the nae sayers warn of doom and gloom unless we pass some law to regulate our behaviour.