Local craft beer and wine has kept its place at this year's Christmas in the Park event after the Tauranga District Licensing Committee ruled in the organisers favour for a designated bar.

In a decision released this week, the committee will grant an on-site special licence for the December 20 event at Blake Park despite strong police opposition.

The 2013 edition of Tauranga's 'Christmas in the Park'. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

At last week's committee hearing police opposed Bay of Plenty Brewery director Glen Meikle's application, questioning the necessity for alcohol at family-focussed events.

Since 2012, alcohol has been served in segregated areas, from 5pm until one hour before the event finished – both at the vacant site next to Zespri International and then at Blake Park.

During this time the event has grown in popularity, with numbers growing from 3000 to 25,000.

The committee has outlined the on-site approval will see the stage moved further away from the designated liquor area with approved licensing hours of 5.30pm to 8pm.

At last week's meeting, Glen outlined there will be up to 2000 people in the designated area at any one time, with four duty managers on the bar and up to 20 certified security guards.

He added the jump in crowd numbers meant the bar area became overcrowded last year – a situation not helped by 90 per cent of the food stalls being inside the designated area.

Western Bay of Plenty Police alcohol harm reduction co-ordinator Sergeant Nigel McGlone respects the decision, but says police concerns hinged on the event's significant jump in popularity in recent years.

Nigel says: 'We weren't caught on the hop last year but I don't think anyone expected it to grow to five times what it had been the previous year. It hadn't been a concern before.

'I will go along with some other staff and see how it goes throughout the night.”

The December 20 event runs from 2pm to 9.30pm with beer, cider, wine, bottled water and soft drinks all sold.

Christmas in the Park event organiser Rachelle Duffy could not be reached for comment.

A full report on the Tauranga District Licensing Committee's ruling is yet to be released.