Porirua supermarket sells alcohol to minor for third time in three months

Porirua Police have a mixed response to the results of a recent controlled purchase operation (CPO) carried out in conjunction with the District Licensing Agency and Regional Public Health.

Senior Sergeant Steve Sargent says they were pleased with the fact that out of the 25 premises visited on Friday 29 October 2010, only one sold liquor to the 17 year-old female volunteer.

"The disappointment was that the premises that failed the CPO was a large supermarket. This is the third time within the past three months that they have failed a controlled purchase operation."

Senior Sergeant Sargent says when the volunteer took the six pack of beer to the checkout she was asked for and produced her photo driver's licence indicating that she was underage.  Despite this, the sale was authorised by the duty supervisor and she left the store with the alcohol.

"This is the same store that sold a gift pack of wine containing alcohol, last month and a 12 pack of beer the previous month."

Steve Sargent says the Police will be making a combined agency application to the Liquor Licensing Authority for either a lengthy suspension or the cancellation of the Supermarket's licence.