The issue of alcohol related harm is a negative externality that damages the public good of our society. This project specifically focuses on insensible drinking and the harm it causes for Auckland CBD. Because there are many contributing factors toward the concept of ‘harm’ (such as noise and violence), the project cannot practically adopt a monetized evaluation method in its discourse. Instead, it follows the model of the multi-goal analysis where case studies and other qualitative supports are used. The analysis should flow in accordance with the procedure of the Rationalist Mode.
The credibility of the policies are rated in terms of the criteria in non-numerical terms such as ‘moderate’, ‘weak’ , ‘strong’ etc.
Because the goal of this policy project is to evaluate and suggest methods to help in decreasing the existing social harm caused by alcohol in Auckland CBD. It is important at this stage to make a conceptual clarification. Unlike some policy issues, the issue of alcohol related harm is not caused by the policies themselves. Problems associated with alcohol will always exist. Relevant policies can only determine the degree of its impact rather than whether the problem exists at all. Of course, bad policies could worsen the situation and good policies help to reduce harm. By looking at the problem in this way, it is clear that the alcohol related harm in Auckland CBD (and especially those associated with its Nightlife) is a combination of social problem and policy problem. Therefore the task of this policy analysis is not simply seeking better alternative to replace the existing policy of operation hours, instead, and perhaps more importantly, it need to address policies of different sorts that could be implemented alongside with an effective policy of operation hours.
The project does not intend to include ethical/moral arguments that support a liberal drinking environment. Claims such as the promotion of the ‘vibrant dynamic image of the city’ or the ‘civic liberty’ are excluded from the evaluation because of the irrelevance to the project goal.