Police, concerned about inadequate control on the night ... applied for a suspension of the on-licence which allows the business to sell liquor.The popular Diva Bar and Bistro in Havelock North will close for most of Labour Weekend as a penalty for allowing intoxicated patrons to remain on the premises after the All Blacks' semifinal triumph in last year's Rugby World Cup.
The three-day yellow-card was settled in Napier yesterday at a Liquor Licensing Authority hearing which was told police saw one person enter the premises intoxicated and found two others in the bar in similar states, apparently continuing drinking, after the All Blacks beat the Wallabies 20-6 in a game which started at 9pm on Sunday, October 16.
Police, concerned about inadequate control on the night, and the bar's history of a previous liquor licensing breach in 2010, applied for a suspension of the on-licence which allows the business to sell liquor.
Police also applied for suspension of the general manager certificates of that night's duty manager, and proprietors Gerald and Barbara Beach, who had unrelated and separately each been convicted of a drink-driving offence.
The on-licence suspension came after the authority, Judge John Hole, asked the couple to nominate the most suitable dates for the closure, based on avoiding dates when the establishment was already committed to bookings.