Kaipara outlets fail Controlled Purchase Operations test

 

Two recent Controlled Purchase Operations, conducted at licensed premises throughout Northland by Northland DHB and NZ Police staff, has resulted in a disappointing result in one of the regions.

The operations saw underage volunteers, aged 16, attempting to purchase alcohol from licensed premises in the greater Bay of Islands and Kaipara areas.

There was a pleasing result from the Far North operation with no sales from the 16 outlets tested, however there were four sales from the 18 outlets visited in the Kaipara area.

“The result was disappointing,” said Sergeant Howard Clement, Alcohol Harm Reduction Officer, Whangarei Police. “The premises involved should have better systems in place regarding not selling alcohol to minors. These sales of alcohol should not be occurring.

“All applicants when they make application for a license to sell alcohol state there are appropriate systems and procedures in place to prevent sales of alcohol to underage people. Clearly this is not the case for those that sold to minors.”

Sergeant Clement adds that as a community we need to have confidence that license holders will not sell alcohol to our youth and allow them drinking unsupervised and potentially harmfully.

Consequences when licensees are reported to authorities are major, and can result in a suspension of their license to sell alcohol for a number of days.

Controlled Purchase Operations (CPOs) are part of an ongoing programme to assess compliance with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 in an effort to address access to alcohol by minors.