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Liquor stores named and shamed

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Liquor stores named and shamed

3News NZ

In two of the three cases, the sale was made by the Duty Manager (file)

In two of the three cases, the sale was made by the Duty Manager (file)

Three Invercargill liquor stores have been caught red-handed in a police sting, with two duty managers selling alcohol to a minor.

In the latest "controlled purchase operation" on Friday night, the third such undercover operation in the region in a year, a 16-year-old was sent into nine liquor outlets, said Sergeant John Harris, the officer in charge of the alcohol harm reduction unit.

"The premises that sold were Barluca in Dee Street, East End Bottle Store in Tay Street and Southland Super Liquor in Elles Road. In two of the cases it was the duty manager who made the sale."

As far as police were concerned, a successful operation was when all the stores sent the underage person away empty-handed.

"This result is awful. This country is presently going through reforms to the Sale of Liquor Act and yet with all the publicity surrounding this issue we still have outlets that are prepared to sell to underagers.

"There is no excuse. He should have been ejected from every premise."

Last September in Southland, nine out of 16 premises were caught selling alcohol to a minor, and in May this year, four out of nine outlets were caught.

"You can be assured that these joint operations will continue," Sgt Harris said.

NZN

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Comments

4/10/2012 10:27:32 p.m.

the DR wrote:

but if marijuana was decriminalized they would all be at home veged out in front of the tv or play station not out of control on the street and lets face it alcohol is way worse than pot and if it was a new thing alcohol would be a class A drug

26/09/2012 4:44:58 p.m.

Matt wrote:

Everybody seems to be more concerned about the effects youth drinking has on our society... Yes, drunk underage kids cause trouble I agree but have you stopped to think about why this is??? Cracking down on licensed premises will not solve this issue, alcohol is easily obtained by older friends or parents (with or without their knowledge) drugs are available by youths through large social networks created in schools. Kids will be kids, we were all young once. So how can we resolve street crime, violence, tagging and excessive intox levels of youths... 1: Better drug and alcohol education and rehabilitation courses within schools with a realest approach from experienced people. 2: Give the kids somewhere to go! Something cool and fun, yes they will still turn up under the influence but at least their behavior can be monitored (its safer than walking the streets). Iv been working in hospo for a long time, i have seen first hand the effects of youth drinking on society, however I cant say the people frequenting most NZ bars and clubs (of age) are much more responsible.

25/09/2012 5:20:16 a.m.

Alex wrote:

There are far worse things happening in our cities than a few young people obtaining booze.

23/09/2012 5:07:18 p.m.

xxx wrote:

Well is dose say something about southland liquor outlets. I can say that I was caught up in a sting operation in Otago. Yes I did sell a 4 pack rtd to an underager at the time she was dolled up to look over 18 years of age. I belive it is called entrapment which just to note is illegal in other countries. In the 15 years of Hospitality I lost my Job and my managers license was suspended for 6 months so much if you need a job. So instead of firing me the particular liquor outlet should of put me on supervision instead of firing me.,

23/09/2012 4:33:42 p.m.

Dave wrote:

mate it will a big dealm if that youth dies of alcohol poisoning,kills someone drivng drunk or any other of the way to many crimes commited by drunk people, think about it,would you like your son/daughter being able to get booze without your knowledge?

23/09/2012 2:39:12 p.m.

Steven wrote:

And they will get away with this with a slap on the wrist!All from the same Trust!!

23/09/2012 12:48:22 p.m.

Steve wrote:

@ JOE, Just think...for every time a liquor store is caught selling to a minor, how many minors are served. It is Minors that are being served that drive the price of liquor up, cause massive social and health problems and force the goverment to take action such as the recent attempts to raise the legal drinking age. Teeagers under 18 are in no way ready for unsupervised drinking...this has been proved time and time again. Crime of the centuary no but some of the things that teens do when drunk can be very close to it.

23/09/2012 12:05:43 p.m.

malcolm wrote:

Get with the play Joe; the cost of alcohol-related issues runs into the billions annually. The last thing we want is even younger people adding to this already unsustainable burden!

23/09/2012 9:27:46 a.m.

joe wrote:

Gees, crime of the century in quiet and sleepy Invercargill. What next, old lady not paying her parking ticket?