Tauranga's first "superclub", Illuminati, has been ordered to partially close for 24 hours this weekend.
The club is a combination of former nightclubs Temple and The Colosseum in Harington St, and it was several "heavily intoxicated people" at Temple in September who brought about the closure.
Temple and The Colosseum came together
to form Illuminati in November.
The so-called "superclub" has four rooms, a VIP area, a garden bar, an outdoor deck area and cocktail bar.
The closure decision was announced yesterday by the Liquor Licensing Authority, which ordered the suspension of Temple's liquor licence from 8am this Friday until 8am Saturday. Despite Temple and The Colosseum now operating as one, they did so under two separate liquor licences, so only the Temple side of Illuminati will be closed.
Police alcohol harm reduction officer Nigel McGlone was with Tauranga City Council liquor licensing inspectors when they visited Temple on September 11 last year.
Mr McGlone said the group found at least six people who were so drunk they should not have been there.
Mr McGlone said that as soon as he walked in, he saw a man so intoxicated he could not stand on his own, being served a shot of alcohol.
"He was struggling on his feet and was holding on to the bar to brace himself.
"Over the next 25 minutes there were five others so intoxicated to the point they should not have been there or served alcohol."
These people were taken outside and assessed by police and the bar's duty manager.
"They had difficulty forming words, they couldn't stand up straight."
Mr McGlone said that "in fairness" - because he and the inspectors spent so long at Temple - they were unable to make the same kind of inspection at other bars that night.
The sting was part of Operation Unite - an Australasian campaign led by police against drunk and disorderly behaviour.
"We are trying to educate licensees and managers that you can't have people get like that in your bar.
"It's really important. It's keeping their patrons safe.
"They should not be served alcohol to the point where they can't look after themselves," Mr McGlone said.
