Eleven bottle shops and stores across Auckland have had their alcohol-selling licences suspended after being found selling alcohol to under-18s within the past year.
The affected stores included:
- Black Bull Northcote
- Simply Fresh in Hillcrest
- Glengarry Ellerslie
- Brew Royal Oak
- Bottle O Mount Smart
- Grand Food Mart in Orewa
- Kowhai Liquor Centre at Warkworth
- Wine and Spirits in Flat Bush
- Forrest Hill Liquor Centre
- Favona Liquor Wholesale
- Unsworth Liquor
These suspensions are issued as penalties for breaching the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.
The stores were identified during multiple controlled purchase operations carried out by Auckland Council’s Alcohol Licensing Unit, police, and the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, spanning from last May to the present.
“Selling alcohol to a minor is against the law,” Auckland Council’s manager of licensing and environmental health, Mervyn Chetty, said.
“It puts young people at serious risk of alcohol-related harm, including injuries and accidents.”
Chetty said there are explicit expectations for all individuals granted an alcohol licence to adhere to the regulations.
Glengarry Ellerslie, Brew Royal Oak, Kowhai Liquor Centre, Black Bull Northcote, Wine and Spirits, Forrest Hill Liquor Centre, Favona Liquor Wholesale and Unsworth Liquor were given a 48-hour suspension.
A 72-hour suspension was given to Bottle O Mt Smart in March, while Simply Fresh in Hillcrest and Grand Food Mart in Orewa were each issued seven-day suspensions in April and January, respectively.
Good to Go, another off-licence located in the central district, was suspended for 21 days due to multiple violations.
The store operated without a manager on duty, neglected to notify authorities of manager appointments, conducted unauthorised sales, and sold ready-to-drink beverages at a grocery location.
“As all licence holders will know, suspensions are put in place for first-time offenders; however, repeat offences may carry greater penalties which are set out in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act,” Chetty said.
“Every alcohol licence comes with rules and conditions to support the sale and supply of alcohol in a safe and responsible manner, which will help reduce alcohol-related harm.”
Chetty confirmed that all suspensions have now been completed.