UPDATED
Some try to be opportunistic, not in a good way.
### ODT Online Thu, 12 Nov 2009
Car-free Octagon plan hits snag
By David Loughrey
Lower Octagon businesses pushing for the area to be closed to traffic during summer have been told to put more work into their idea if they want it to go ahead.
Read more
And these are the businesses that want to bring in a dress code. Ridiculous.
DCC needs to soldier on with an urban design study of public places in the CBD – especially with regard to the Octagon, which doesn’t show off the centre of town to best advantage. The place should be sparkling, edgy and immaculate, and that’s just the landscaping design.
****
Businesses in the lower Octagon that promote and sell alcohol in this way won’t be seeing my patronage for a very long time.
### ODT Online Fri, 13 Nov 2009
Spat over bars’ drinks-discount deal
By Debbie Porteous
A spat between the authorities and lower Octagon bar owners has started over a promotion offering patrons a discounted taxi home if they buy six drinks in four hours. The authorities say the promotion, which covers the period between 7pm and 11pm on Thursdays, breaches the Sale of Liquor Act by encouraging patrons to drink excessive amounts of alcohol.
Read more
A reader’s concerns and the bars’ response
Post by Elizabeth Kerr
4 Comments
November 13, 2009 at 6:33 pm
The Octagon is NOT the sole province of bar owners, it must be said.
### TVNZ News Published: 6:16PM Friday November 13, 2009
Dunedin bar promotion draws backlash
Source: ONE News
Bars and cafes in Dunedin’s Octagon currently have a promotion of a different kind, where they are paying customers to drink more. It is being called the Octagon Alive – a summer promotion where customers buy six drinks, one from each of the participating bars and collect stamps as they go. Customers then get $6 towards a taxi home.
Read more + Video
****
### TVNZ News Published: 6:21PM Sunday November 01, 2009
Dunedin bars introduce new dress codes
Source: Reuters/ONE News
Dunedin’s Octagon night life is getting a face lift with the introduction of a new dress and behaviour code. All 11 licensed premises in the Octagon have joined forces to help clean up the bar scene.
Read more + Video
November 13, 2009 at 8:11 pm
It seems these bar owners are promoting better dressed drunks to frequent their premises.
November 17, 2009 at 10:06 am
### ODT Online Tue, 17 Nov 2009
Trial closure for Octagon mooted
By David Loughrey
A trial closure of the lower Octagon has been tentatively scheduled for February, although plenty of difficulties appear to stand in the way of the idea.
Read more
November 18, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I’m not giving any of these bars and eateries in the lower Octagon my patronage for some considerable time. The amended drinks promotion is one thing; their thinking they can determine the use of the Octagon to suit ‘own interests’ is another.
### ODT Online Wed, 18 Nov 2009
Octagon bars, licensing body agree on drinks promotion
By Debbie Porteous
Octagon bar owners and Dunedin’s district licensing authority have reached a compromise on a drinks promotion the DLA believed breached the Sale of Liquor Act.
[The] promotion was changed so patrons could now get the [discounted taxi ride home] after purchasing six drinks over any number of Thursday nights, instead of having to purchase all six drinks in one night.
Read more