20 December 2004 

A fight broke out and a 22-year-old female bar manager was allegedly assaulted after a smoker was asked to leave a Wanganui hotel on Saturday.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said she had come on duty just before 6pm when the incident happened in the Sports Bar of the Red Lion Inn.

It had been a cold, rainy afternoon and all the other smokers had gone outside to smoke, she said.

One man lit up, and was told he could not do so indoors. He took exception to this, and said no one had a right to tell him not to smoke, she said.

After about 10 minutes' conversation the bar manager asked him to either comply with the new Smokefree Environments Act or leave. He became abusive, she said.

He was told police would be called if he did not leave quietly. When the manager tried to confiscate his remaining alcohol she said she was grabbed and shoved, which she found frightening.

Another bar patron came to her aid and then one of the smoker's companions got physical as well, while others joined in to try to break up the fight.

By the time "six to eight" police officers arrived five minutes later, helpful bar patrons had edged the smoker and his companions to the door.

Police were then allegedly assaulted by a woman and fighting started again.

The bar manager said patrons were trying to be helpful. They wanted to enjoy the horse racing in peace and "didn't want to put up with that kind of crap".

Four people were arrested as a result of the incidents, acting Sergeant Wade Satherley said.

Three were charged with disorderly behaviour and a fourth with assaulting police and resisting arrest. They are due to appear in Wanganui District Court on Thursday.

The manager said the brawl was completely unexpected on a Saturday afternoon, and prior to that she had not even had to remind anyone not to smoke inside.

She said she was a smoker herself, and had gone outside in the rain to light up.

She and others were shaken by the incident, but she was back on duty yesterday.

"You go home, take a deep breath, have a shot of whisky and carry on carrying on. You learn to adapt, and not take it personally.

"We don't make the rules, we just have to try and enforce them."
New Zealand:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3133431a11,00.html