Top marks to Central Tararua licensed premises

On Friday 16 August 2013, 15 licensed premises in the Tararua area were
visited in a combined operation by Tararua District Council Liquor Licensing
Inspectors, Public Health Officers and Police.

This was the first multi-agency operation in the Tararua area since 2009.

For the operation three volunteers below the legal purchase age of 18 years
attempted to purchase alcohol while being observed by a plain-clothed member
of Police. The volunteers for this operation were aged 16 and 17.

The controlled purchase operation visited 6 Off Licence premises, 7 On
Licence premises and 2 premises that operate an On Licence and a separate
stand-alone Off Licence from the same premises.

In total there were 20 attempted purchases at the various premises.

There were no sales.

The regulatory agencies involved were extremely pleased with the results
especially since compliance has rarely been tested.

A number of licensees and duty managers were spoken to on the night and,
whilst somewhat surprised to find the minors were under the direction of
Police, they were happy to know they had passed the test.

Sergeant Glenn Ryan, Palmerston North Police Alcohol Harm Reduction Officer,
said, "It is satisfying to know that all of the premises checked were
vigilant. They all asked for identification and when the volunteers were
unable to produce it, they were immediately asked to leave the premises."

"That is what we want - compliance."

The only disappointment was some licensees were upset at having their
compliance tested and they became abusive towards the volunteers and
regulatory agencies.”

"Licensees need to remember that holding a liquor licence is a privilege, not
a right. Government has seen fit to authorise the use of controlled purchase
operations to ensure premises comply with their obligations under the Act."

"That authorisation continues under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012
so premises should expect to have their compliance tested regularly."

ends

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