Sale to minor may sting CD

The Central Districts Cricket Association is being prosecuted for allegedly selling alcohol to a minor during a Cricket World Cup match. Photo / File

The Central Districts Cricket Association is being prosecuted for allegedly selling alcohol to a minor during a Cricket World Cup match at Napier's McLean Park in March.

Police, the Napier liquor licensing inspector and the local district health board carried out a "controlled purchase operation" at the park's ground bars on March 8, the day the Black Caps played Afghanistan.

A sold-out crowd watched the Black Caps beat Afghanistan by six wickets. It was one of three matches played in Napier during the World Cup.

During the controlled purchase operation, two under-age volunteers tried to buy alcohol at the four bars.

Police say three of the bars refused to sell alcohol to the volunteers after they failed to produce identification on request.

It is alleged that at the fourth and last bar visited in the operation, one of the volunteers was sold four Tui Lager beers for $30 cash and was not asked for identification or how old he was.

Police say when they spoke to the seller she could not recall making the sale to the volunteer as many other customers had been through the bar service area by then.

The bar manager and server of the alcohol were contracted by the cricket association to sell alcohol at the event.

A charge, carrying a maximum fine of $10,000, has been laid against the association in the Napier District Court. It has yet to enter a plea and the matter is due to come back before the court next month.