Law flouted as teens able to buy booze

Underage teens were able to buy booze at 2 out of 8 liquor outlets in Northland in a recent police sting.

A quarter of licensed premises in eastern Kaipara sold alcohol to underage drinkers during a police sting.

During a recent controlled-purchase operation at licensed premises, two out of eight broke the law and shocked police and Northland DHB staff who conducted it.

During the operation, two underage volunteers tried to buy alcohol from licensed premises. Two of the eight licensed premises sold to the underage teens. Whangarei/Kaipara Police spokesman Sergeant Howard Clement said the result was disappointing.

"The premises involved should have had better systems in place regarding the sale of alcohol to minors," he said.

Northland DHB and police have been running joint controlled-purchase operations (CPOs) in Northland for almost 10 years.

"I do not expect that sales of alcohol to underaged patrons should be occurring. The fallout from youth accessing alcohol is well-documented.

"As a community, we need to have confidence that licence-holders will not sell alcohol to our youth," Mr Clement said.

"This latest operation has shown lax systems, and considerable improvement is required. All licensees and their staff should assess the age of anyone who appears under the age of 25 by insisting on a form of photo identification.

"No photo identification, no sale - it is that simple."

The results are in stark contrast to an operation in the Mid North and Bay of Islands last month. That operation audited 16 off-licensed premises in the Mid North and Bay of Islands area and involved under 18-year-olds attempting to buy alcohol from licensed premises. Attempts were made at licensed premises in Kaikohe, Okaihau, Moerewa, Kawakawa, Opua and Paihia and there were no sales to minors.

CPOs are part of an ongoing programme to assess compliance with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 in an effort to stop minors having easy access to alcohol. Under the Act, applications for suspension or cancellation of licences and managers' certificates will be made for the premises that failed the CPO.