A Hastings supermarket's liquor licence will be suspended for five days after it was caught selling to a minor for the second time in nine months. Hastings Countdown, on the corner of Queen and King streets, will have its liquor licence suspended from 7am on January 5 to 7am on January10 after a combined operation by police, Hastings District Council and the Hawke's Bay District Health Board in July, when 10 premises were visited. It was revealed alcohol was sold to someone under the age of 18. Hastings District Council community safety manager Malcom Hart said the penalty was significant as it was not the supermarket's first offence. Hastings Countdown was found to have sold to a minor during a sting in December 2007. Then, its liquor licence was suspended for 24 hours. The manager on duty at the time of the latest sale has had his general manager's certificate suspended for two weeks.
