Prosecutions to Follow Liquor Check

Two businesses will face charges of selling alcohol to minors after a controlled purchase operation in New Plymouth District this week.

The operation was conducted by the police, the New Plymouth District Licensing Agency and Taranaki District Health Board’s Public Health Unit in Urenui, Waitara, Bell Block and New Plymouth yesterday (Thursday).

Of the 21 premises visited, 19 refused to sell alcohol to the two 15 and 17 year-old volunteers.

“Overall this was a good result with 90 per cent of the premises refusing the sales, and we congratulate those licensees, managers and their staff,” says Manager Customer and Regulatory Services Simon Pickford.

“Just one off-license and one on-license did not send the young volunteers on their way.

“We remind bottle stores and supermarkets that they should have clear processes in place, including till prompts, that require sellers to seek identification and record the date of birth of people who appear to be under 25-years-old before a sale can take place.”

A controlled purchase operation is where a young person under the age of 18 is sent into licensed premises under the supervision of the police in an attempt to purchase liquor.

Licensing officer for the New Plymouth Police, Constable Jane Christie, says enforcement action will be taken against the premises who did sell to the minors.

“The sellers will face charges in the district court, and the managers and licensees will be required to appear before the Liquor Licensing Authority where suspension of manager’s certificates and the premise licences will be sought,” she says.