A plan to stop people drinking and carrying liquor in public places across the entire city for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is likely to be put to the public.

There is already a 24-hour liquor control ban covering the central business district, Oriental Bay, Mount Victoria lookout, Aro Valley and Central Park. Wellington City Council is considering extending the bylaw to cover the entire city because residents report that people drinking in public in a number of suburbs are creating problems with litter, damage and intimidating behaviour, including urinating and vomiting in places such as playgrounds, shop frontages and bus shelters.

The Council's Strategy and Policy Committee today recommended that the proposed extension of the bylaw be put out to public consultation. Mayor Kerry Prendergast said the Strategy and Policy Committee's view was clear.

"We want Wellington to be a safe, healthy, vibrant city for people to live, work and play in - but in some public places, misuse of liquor is getting in the way of that, and this can happen anywhere, at any time," she said.

"We've come to the conclusion that extending the 24/7 liquor bylaw across the city is the best way of dealing with the problem - and that we need feedback from the public to help us make our final decision."

Mayor Prendergast said the Council was working on a comprehensive Alcohol Management Plan, and any extension to the liquor control ban would form part of that. This will help the Council balance enabling people to enjoy responsible drinking with the costs and harm experienced when alcohol is abused.

The Strategy and Policy Committee's decision is subject to a meeting of the full Council on 24 March. If approved, the consultation will start on Tuesday 30 March and close on Wednesday 5 May.

People will be able to have their say online at www.Wellington.govt.nz, by email or by posting a submission to the Council.