Northland police crack down on the illegal sale of alcohol to minors.
Northland police crack down on the illegal sale of alcohol to minors.
Northland police and health officials are disappointed with the mixed results of a recent sting targeting the illegal sale of alcohol to minors, after two of 37 licensed premises were prepared to sell booze to people aged under 18.
Police and Northland District Health Board staff recently carried out ControlledPurchase Operations (CPO) at licensed premises in the Bay of Islands and Whangarei areas with mixed results.
During the two-day operation, under-age volunteers tried to purchase alcohol from off-license premises. Two of the 18 licensed premises in the Bay of Islands sold to an under-age teen, while no sales were made in the Whangarei operation, where 19 premises were tested.
Kerikeri Police alcohol harm reduction officer Constable Graeme Wright said the result was disappointing. "The majority of our licensed premises remain compliant; however, this operation not only checked compliance of off-licensed premises, it also included a check of a special licensed event. A number of wineries in our region apply for special licences to sell alcohol at our local markets and shows throughout the year.
"Unfortunately, the operation found a local winery sold a bottle of wine to the under-age teen at a local market," Mr Wright said.
"Special licences are not exempt from being monitored for compliance. All licensees should have had good systems in place regarding the sale of alcohol to minors."
The DHB and police have been running joint CPOs in Northland for almost 10 years.
"I do not expect sales of alcohol should be occurring. The fall-out from youth accessing alcohol is well documented," Mr Wright said.
CPOs are part of a programme to assess compliance with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. In accordance with the act, applications for suspension or cancellation of licence and of managers' certificates will be made for premises that failed the CPO.
