Bars refuse over 18s without ID

By FRANCESCA MOLD

Hundreds of drinkers in their 20s are being turned away from pubs and clubs because they do not carry Government-approved photo identification.

The problems are spilling over on to city streets and frustrating patrons forced to queue at their regular bars.

Patrons as old as 30 have been asked for identification.

At the Viaduct Harbour in Auckland at the weekend, a number of bars struggled with the influx of first-time drinkers as queues stretched and tempers shortened.

A spokeswoman for the Loaded Hog said that despite the popularity of the Viaduct Harbour and growing queues, "we are very strict on identification."

"If you don't have identification you don't come in."

An amendment to the Sale of Liquor Act which took effect last week lowered the minimum drinking age from 20 to 18.

The change led to a swarm of young drinkers filling pubs and clubs to the brim at the weekend.

But instead of welcoming the new trade, bar owners and managers turned hundreds away because they did not have approved photo identification.

Under the amendment, only passports, photo driver's licences or Hospitality Association 18-plus cards can be used as proof of age.

To avoid massive fines for underage drinking, which have doubled to $10,000 and/or suspension of the bar's licence, managers are demanding correct identification.

One Hamilton pubgoer said his 26-year-old girlfriend had to drive to Auckland to pick up her ID because they had been told people in their late 20s were being refused entry to bars at the weekend.

Another Auckland woman, Lisa Walkley, said she could not believe it when she was turned away from a bar she had been going to for four years.

The 23-year-old admitted she looks young for her age but said she had never had a problem getting into bars as long as she had her driver's licence and cashflow card as identification.

But on Friday night, she was refused entry to a bar and forced to wait outside while friends enjoyed a Christmas work party inside.

She was angry at the new restriction and said the Government did not give people enough time to prepare for the new legislation.

She was not due to apply for her new photo driver's licence until next month, but she filled in an application form on Friday in the hope of receiving it before New Year millennium celebrations.

Hospitality Association chief executive Bruce Robertson said bar managers were doing the right thing asking for identification.

"It may be an inconvenience to young-looking 20-year-olds, but that is the cost of ensuring minors are not served."

Richard Bate of Hamilton, who owns three bars, said his staff had refused entry to people aged in their mid-20s because of a lack of ID.

He said bar security had some problems with people becoming aggressive and grumpy because they were refused entry.

But police had provided backup and were very supportive of bar owners trying to enforce the new law.