Ruling shuts Ahuriri bar for 24 hours

The Thirsty Whale has been shut for 24 hours after a ruling found alcohol was served to a drunk customer.

A popular Ahuriri bar will have to close for 24 hours next week after the alcohol licensing authority found it had served alcohol to a drunk customer.

The suspension of the Thirsty Whale's on-licence was part of a ruling released by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority in relation to a liquor licensing hearing held in December last year when owner and Napier City Councillor Keith Price sought to renew the bar's on-licence.

The licence will be suspended for 24 hours from 8am on Friday, January 30.

Police alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Ray Wylie said allegations that people had been served alcohol on the premises while intoxicated were proved by police during the December hearing.

He said attempts by police and the district licensing inspector to work with the bar to reduce alcohol-related harm before the hearing had been unsuccessful.

Mr Price said he respected the judge's decision.

"It's a ruling that's been made against us.

"We've got to take it on the chin."

However, he said it was "very, very harsh" to suggest there had been "major drunkenness" in the bar.

"There's certainly no indication of major drunkenness in the judge's report."

He pointed to a paragraph in the report that said Mr Wylie's assessment of a patron's co-ordination was "questionable", as he tried to determine whether the patron was drunk.

He said the bar carried insurance for the loss of income that would result from the close-down.

The Thirsty Whale had been granted its liquor licence with extra conditions that it impose a one-way door policy after 2am and stopped entry to the bar's Harpoon Room after midnight.