Bars take a hit on breaches

The Liquor Licensing Authority has hit two Palmerston North bars with bans after a hotel owner took part in a drunken scrap and employees of another bar sold liquor to minors.

The owner of Palmerston North's Royal Hotel, Michael Clifford Dillon, has had his general manager's certificate revoked for a month as punishment for a drunken fight on August 29 last year.

A Liquor Licensing Authority hearing in Palmerston North heard how an intoxicated Mr Dillon was taken to the Palmerston North police station after being caught fighting near The Royal Hotel.

He was later released without charge and returned to the hotel, where he lives.

However, authority chairman Judge John Hole suspended Mr Dillon's general manager's certificate for 31 days at the end of the August 17 hearing.

Judge Hole also renewed the hotel's on-licence but only for a probationary period of 12 months.

When contacted by the Manawatu Standard, Mr Dillon said there was nothing he could say on the matter.

In a separate incident, Highflyers Bar will have its on-licence suspended for 48 hours from October 7-9 as punishment after staff were caught selling alcohol to minors during liquor stings in April and June last year.

The bar had its liquor licence renewed until November 2011, but would be closely monitored by police and the licensing authority.

It would also adopt a "one way" door policy from 2am on Saturdays, the authority ruled.

Bar co-owner Ian McQueen declined to comment.

The authority issued Natasha Jade Frewin with a general manager's certificate despite police opposing her application because of previous drink-driving offences.

Former Bar Mode owner Tane McLeay had his general manager's certificate cancelled after complaints about management problems and underage drinking at the bar. Mr McLeay, who no longer works in the liquor industry, did not attend the hearing.

- © Fairfax NZ News