Facebook booze buyer 'supplied underage girls'

The Dunedin man is facing a maximum $2000 fine after buying a 12-pack of RTDs for the girls, aged 13 and 14, in April. Photo / 123RF

Dunedin police have charged a 21-year-old man for supplying booze to two underage teenage girls he met through social media.

The Dunedin man is facing a maximum $2000 fine after buying a 12-pack of RTDs for the girls, aged 13 and 14, in April.

The man connected with the girls on social media via the Dunedin sober drivers Facebook page.

He is due to appear in the Dunedin District Court next week.

"He picked up a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old ... took them to a nearby bottle store and purchased a pack of RTDs for them,'' Dunedin alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Ian Paulin said.

"The parents of the kids became aware of the situation.

"They got together and ... made a complaint to us.''

While it was the first time the teens had sourced alcohol in that fashion, "it is happening regularly'', Paulin said.

"Apparently it was very common knowledge among their peers, so they thought they would give it a go.

"They consumed the alcohol and got into some strife later on.''

The teenage girls snuck out of a Concord address and went to a party after consuming the alcohol.

"The big concern is you get these 13- and 14-year-olds getting in these boy racer cars and you don't know what they are going to drive like,'' he said.

"They are placing themselves in a really vulnerable situation - you just don't know.''

The incident had come as a wake-up call for the girls' families and Paulin had spoken to both girls.

The man had regularly touted rides on the "Dunedin sober drivers'' Facebook page.

He warned other parents to be vigilant about their children's social media use and drinking behaviour.

"Be wary of what kids are doing on Facebook and have a wee look at who they are having interactions with, and be aware they will probably have two sets of Facebook [accounts],'' he said.

It is not the first time sober driving pages have caused concern for police.

In 2015, Chinese national Jun Lie Li, 19, was convicted of indecent assault and received a three-strikes warning after attacking a 21-year-old student whom he offered a ride home.

Li took advantage of his heavily intoxicated passenger after she fell asleep in the back of his car while he was driving her home on May 9.

He had regularly touted rides on the "Dunedin sober drivers'' Facebook page.

The 21-year-old charged with supplying alcohol to a minor had also regularly touted rides on the page.

He will appear in court on July 5.