Crackdown launched on alcohol sales to minors

Young teenagers are finding it too easy to buy alcohol prompting authorities to warn they will take a harder line.

Police, public health officials and liquor licensing authorities are disappointed with the number of liquor outlets being caught selling alcohol to minors.

In the most recent sting, about half of the liquor outlets targeted in Taupo, Kawerau and Whakatane were caught selling alcohol to minors.

Police in Rotorua, where there hasn't been a sting for more than a year, are also concerned about the ease with which young people appear to be getting their hands on alcohol.

Senior Sergeant Dave Donaldson said at least two recent sexual violations involved minors who had consumed or bought alcohol at licensed premises.

Taupo police said they were disappointed by the number of stores caught in stings, with nearly half the town's 11 liquor outlets caught in an operation run jointly by police, the district council and Toi Te Ora Public Health.

This was despite a letter being sent to each outlet warning them of the upcoming operation and public notifications in local media.

Sergeant James McGrogan said police were often called to incidents of intoxicated youths involved in crime, either as offenders or victims.

Taupo's Scenic Cellars co-owner Cate Langley said her store was a specialist wine outlet and catered for a "mature audience" and did not usually have a problem with minors trying to buy alcohol.

Despite that, the outlet was caught selling alcohol to a minor, though it successfully fought a suspension when it appeared before the Liquor Licensing Authority.

Although no prosecutions will follow the Kawerau operation, formal warnings have been issued and each of the four outlets can expect a visit from district council licensing inspector Tony Moller.

"Licensees need to be very clear it is a serious offence to sell liquor to minors and can generate heavy fines and affect the renewal of future licences," Mr Moller said.

"The first offence will be kept on file but the second will result in prosecution."

Maximum fines and prosecutions under the Sale of Liquor Act range from $10,000 to $20,000 or suspension of licence for seven days or both.

"There will be another operation within the next few months and anyone caught selling to underage people will be prosecuted," warned Mr Moller.

Senior Sergeant Mark van der Kley of the Kawerau police said the results were disappointing.

Kawerau New World, Kawerau Super Liquor and Kawerau Four Square were approached twice by different underage volunteers and refused to sell them alcohol.

Rotorua District Council liquor licensing inspector Julie Smale said liquor outlets in Rotorua could expect similar operations to be carried out at any time.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)