Three Waitakere Licensing Trust’s licences have been suspended for 48 hours after staff at three different venues sold alcohol to a minor in August last year.
Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA) released its decision after a hearing in Auckland on 16 June 2020 where it found staff at the Te Atatu Tavern, The Good Home in Henderson and West Liquor All Seasons breached the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 by selling alcohol to a 17-year-old.
Licences for all three venues will be suspended from 9am on 4 July 2020 to 9am on 6 July 2020. ARLA also handed down 28-day suspensions to each of the three duty managers.
Auckland Council Alcohol Licensing Manager Peter Knight says the breaches happened on 24 August 2019 during a joint Controlled Purchase Operation (CPO) between council's Alcohol Licensing Unit, police and the Alcohol Prevention Unit.
A CPO is conducted at licensed premises to test compliance, with laws against selling alcohol to minors, under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.
“It’s disappointing to see three breaches happening on the same day and the businesses neglecting their obligations under the Act,” Peter says.
“Excessive alcohol consumption does real harm to our communities and businesses have an obligation to follow the rules to ensure their patrons and other members of the public are not put at risk.”
Peter says the breaches all related to a miscalculation of the minor’s age.
“Unfortunately, miscalculations are a common theme.
“Asking for ID and then calculating the correct age from that identification are basic requirements for anyone selling alcohol.”
Follow up visits to the three venues will take place in the future, Peter says.
ARLA decisions are available to view at nzlii.org
