22 November 2004

Outlets Sold Alcohol To Minors

The Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) says it is extremely disappointed that half of 20 Nelson premises targeted by police sold alcohol to minors.

Police ran a Controlled Purchase Operation earlier this month with two 17-year-old volunteers attempting to purchase alcohol. Of the 20 bottle stores, supermarkets and taverns visited, eight places in Richmond and Motueka and two in Nelson allowed youths to buy alcohol.

“CPOs are part of the enforcement of the Sale of Liquor Act and a necessary part of changing the drinking culture,” says ALAC Chief Executive Officer Dr Mike MacAvoy.

“Sellers need to understand that the law is to be taken seriously and they will not get away with breaking the law and selling alcohol to underage purchasers.”

Dr MacAvoy says ALAC coordinated the development of the guidelines for CPOs that can be used by District Licensing Agencies and Public Health Groups under Police supervision.

“CPOs are an extremely valuable tool to ensure liquor outlets are abiding by the law and not selling alcohol to those under 18-years-old.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>