This Friday’s Super 14 match in Wellington between the Hurricanes and the Crusaders shows New Zealand’s liquor laws are “out-dated and farcical” and in need of reform.

The message comes from Adam Cunningham, president of the Wellington branch of the Hospitality Association, who has highlighted some of the bizarre consequences of the rules around selling liquor at Easter.

Rugby New Zealand 2011 has launched a “short, sharp” training programme that hopes to get the 10,000 to 15,000 staff needed to serve 1.7 million fans over the Rugby World Cup up to speed.

The programme, called EventStarNZ will be run through workplaces, polytechnics and institutes of technology from May and training will take place in hospitality, kitchen, retail and bar venues.

Developed jointly with the Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI), the programme could be used beyond the cup to other large events in the future, RNZ said.

A reduction in tax on low alcohol products and a cutback in the hours liquor can be sold are some of the options the Law Commission has released for public discussion today as part of its review of the liquor laws, but the hospitality industry is warning that changes that target the entire population are unlikely to work.

In the second report released by the commission as part of its review of New Zealand’s liquor laws, the public discussion paper looks at the issues raised by alcohol use in New Zealand and offers some “tentative solutions”.