Man caught buying alcohol for teens in Taupo sting

A man was caught buying alcohol for young teenagers during a police blitz in Taupo.

A combined operation with the Taupo police, the district licensing authority and Toi Te Ora Public Health saw licensed premises in Taupo being targeted in a controlled purchase sting.

Sergeant Shane McNally of the Taupo police alcohol harm reduction group said 14 premises in Taupo were checked on Friday, April 13. He said none of those premises sold alcohol to the volunteers aged 16 and 17.

"This was a great result. It goes to show the hard work that all licensees have put into staff training and the importance of having a robust system in place to check for ID."

However, police conducted another operation on the same night, in which the underage volunteers attempted to get a member of the public to buy and supply them with alcohol from a local bottle store.

Mr McNally said a 26-year-old Taupo man was approached and bought alcohol which he supplied to the teenagers.

"He was spoken to immediately after by police and as a result faces an appearance in the Taupo District Court to answer a charge of purchasing liquor to supply a minor."

The maximum penalty for that charge is a $2000 fine.

"This operation was planned due to information received from concerned members of the Tauhara community," Mr McNally said.

"It was disappointing that this male completed the sale and supplied the volunteers, but the message must get through, supplying minors alcohol will not be tolerated ..."