Auckland stores caught selling alcohol to minors

Auckland booze stores have been caught out selling alcohol to minors in a pre-Christmas police sting.

Alcohol features in more than half of all police work, from minor to major crimes, police said.

They carried out an operation last week, sending under 18-year-olds into 130 Auckland stores to try and buy booze - 127 of them were off-licensed premises and three were on-licensed premises.

In nine stores the minors were not asked for identification and were able to walk out with alcohol.

The breaches detected in the sting will be presented to the Liquor Licensing Authority or the Courts with requests for suspensions of the License's and Managers' Certificates involved.

"Bars and taverns that had trust-worthy security staff at the door were able to restrict entry to those who could not prove they were of the legal drinking age," said Alcohol Harm Reduction Co-ordinator, Sergeant Jason Loye.

"Premises that do not employ security need to be more vigilant in asking for identification at the point of sale."

Also off-licensed stores need to make sure staff are adequately trained and mature enough to be able to refuse service, Mr Loye said.

He said stores also need to be aware of youths congregating nearby in order to pressure others to obtain alcohol for them.

Such purchasers can be prosecuted for supplying alcohol to a minor.

Duty managers are responsible for the compliance with and enforcement of the provisions of the Sale of Liquor Act, the conditions of the licence in respect of the premises and the conduct of the premises, with the aim of contributing to the reduction of liquor abuse.

Duty managers, and licensees need to ensure these conditions and behaviours are being observed if they want to avoid compromising their own livelihoods through breaches of their license.

Research shows that about two thirds of minors who drink get alcohol through older family members.  Only parents and legal guardians can provide a minor with alcohol, others can be prosecuted.

- © Fairfax NZ News