Porirua Alcohol Sting Shows Good Results

Police are pleased with the results of a controlled purchase operation in Porirua over the weekend in relation to the sale of alcohol to minors.

On Saturday night, the Police in conjunction with the District Licensing Authority and Regional Public Health from the Hutt Valley District Health Board conducted another operation to test compliance with the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 in regards to the supply of liquor to minors.

Senior Sergeant Stephen Sargent says, "During the evening, two 16-year old volunteers visited 16 off-licences and nine on-licences. Much to our delight we only obtained a sale at one of the off-licences; namely Duffy and Finns, Porirua."

The other 24 premises refused to serve or admit them to the premises after being told that they had no identification, or after having asked how old they were.

Stephen Sargent says this is a marked improvement on previous operations, where between three and five premises had been caught.

He says controlled purchase operations have kept the pressure on licensed premises to comply with their obligations under the Sale of Liquor Act and are obviously working.