Bar manager caught driving at four times over limit

File photo / NZ Herald

A bar manager was caught driving more than four times over the legal limit may have her licence suspended.

Billi-Jo Viti was driving along Auckland's Karangahape Road on March 8 when was stopped and breathalysed and blew 1059 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

The legal limit is 250 micrograms per litre of breath.

Viti, whose occupation was recorded as a bar manager in court documents, pleaded guilty to the charge at the Auckland District Court today.

The court heard this was Viti's second high breath-alcohol reading in five years, further details of the earlier charge were not revealed.

She will be sentenced later in the year once she has completed a community alcohol and drugs education programme.

The sentencing date may not be the only punishment Viti faces.

Drink-driving charges have previously resulted in bar managers receiving a suspension on their alcohol licence under the Liquor Licensing Authority.

A bar manager must hold a manager's certificate issued by the District Licensing Committees and any convictions are taken into consideration when the licence is given.

Health Promotion Agency states the manager is responsible for the compliance with the conditions of the licence and provisions of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, which include ensuring the safe and responsible sale and supply of alcohol and minimising alcohol-related harm.

Chief executive for Hospitality New Zealand, Bruce Robertson, said the decision on whether to revoke a licence was usually made on a "case by case basis".

"When a duty manager is caught with a drink drive offence, the police normally apply for a suspension or cancellation of their license on the basis they are not a fit.

"Depending on the circumstances, the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority will then rule on that."

Mr Robertson said it was difficult to "generalise" these situations, other than to say nobody should be caught drink driving.

"The issue is whether having been caught drink driving impeded their ability to do a job in a sober situation, where they are carrying out duties that are regulated."