Problem liquor store to stay

A Flaxmere company caught three times selling liquor to underage purchasers has had two of its managers’ liquor certificates suspended by the Liquor Licensing Authority, but the company will be allowed to continue operating a bottle store despite objections from Hastings District Council, Police and Flaxmere community representatives.

Council Licensing Inspector John Lovatt told the hearing on 19 March 2008 that the company had purchased the bottle store business in the Flaxmere Shopping Centre in late 2007. Within six weeks of trading, Police detected two sales to under-age purchasers, and a “sting” operation caught the business a third time.

The three sellers of alcohol were prosecuted by Police, and two who held Managers’ Certificates were taken before the Liquor Licensing Authority. One manager had his certificate suspended for three months, and the other for four weeks.

Flaxmere Councillor Keriana Poulain said she was disappointed the company itself had been "let off" despite three offences within a few months.

"It is good to see the managers responsible having their licenses suspended, but really the company has been let off quite lightly. If it had happened only once you could give them the benefit of the doubt, but this has happened repeatedly and in a very short space of time. If they can't obey the rules, they should not be allowed to run a liquor store regardless of who is behind the counter."

"These retailers need to be held to a high standard, because the problems caused by alcohol are well recognised and communities around New Zealand have had enough," she said.

Karen Hatherell, chairwoman of the Flaxmere Planning Committee which represents a broad range of community groups in Flaxmere, told the hearing that there was concern about rubbish outside the shop, “in-your-face” advertising at the shopping centre entrance, the sale of party pills, and the business’s reputation for selling to minors. She said that Flaxmere had more than enough licensed outlets.

In a reserved decision recently released the Liquor Licensing Authority said that in 1989 Parliament essentially legislated for a “free market” for liquor outlets. The authority said that it believed that the director of Krish Liquor Ltd was likely to comply with his obligations and responsibilities, and granted the company’s application for Off Licence.