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Porirua Police welcome New World supermarket liquor license suspension

Thursday 10 March 2011, 3:40PM

By New Zealand Police

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PORIRUA

Porirua Police have welcomed the Liquor Licensing Authority's decision to temporarily suspend Porirua New World's liquor license for a period of two weeks.

The suspension follows three joint Police/ Porirua District Licensing Agency/Regional Public Health controlled purchase operations (CPOs) last year, where New World staff sold alcohol to underage volunteers.

Porirua Police Alcohol Harm Reduction Officer Senior Sergeant Steve Sargent says the Liquor Licensing Authority has today released its findings from a hearing into the matter late last month.

"The Authority has suspended Porirua New World's liquor license for a period of two weeks, commencing 21 March 2011, meaning that no alcohol will be permitted to be sold during this time. Managers' licenses are also being temporarily suspended."

Steve Sargent says all on and off-licences have a responsibility to abide by the Sale of Liquor Act and that means that everyone who looks under the age of 25 years must produce photo identification before a sale takes place.

"During two CPOs in July and September last year, Porirua New World staff failed to ask the teenage volunteers for ID, breaking the law. In a third CPO in October when ID was produced, (confirming the volunteer was 17 years old) the date of birth of the volunteer was misread, meaning a sale took place.

He says supermarkets and other licensed premises have a duty of care to protect Porirua youth from the dangers of alcohol and Police remain committed to ensuring these breaches do not continue to occur in the city.

Acting Wellington District Commander Inspector Richard Chambers says, "Police are committed to reducing alcohol harm in all communities across the District and staff will continue to target on and off-licenses to ensure compliance."