Fewer caught selling booze to under age people

Fewer retailers are being caught selling alcohol to minors.

Bay of Plenty police caught fewer locals selling alcohol to minors in controlled purchase operations last year- despite more checks on licensed premises.

Police figures showed 11 premises were nabbed selling booze to youngsters in operations at on and off-licences in the police district in 2014 compared with 27 in 2013.

In 2013, 214 controlled purchase operations were carried out and in 2014 there were 244.

The Bay of Plenty Police District covers the area from Katikati in the north, east to the tip of the East Cape and south past Turangi in the central North Island.

Inspector Kevin Taylor of Bay of Plenty police said there were a number of potential reasons for the drop in premises found supplying to minors.

"We would like to believe that the partnership we have with the industry is fostering a more responsible and legal attitude to retailers' obligations under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act."

He said police continued to monitor the situation closely and were confident of the positive relationships they had with most alcohol outlets.

Mr Taylor said controlled purchase operations were just one tool to monitor activity in the sale of alcohol.

Of the 2014 sales to minors in the Bay of Plenty police district, two occurred in Tauranga. In 2013 four occurred in Tauranga.

There were eight prosecutions in relation to the sales to minors in the Bay of Plenty in 2014. National coordinator, alcohol harm reduction, Senior Sergeant Andrew Smith said a case would go to court if someone did not have a licence or management certificate because they could not be dealt with by the licensing authority.