No ID, No Sale say Police.
By Graeme Trask 29 May 2010
Two Wellington businesses will appear before the Liquor Licensing Authority for selling alcohol to minors, following a controlled purchase operation last weekend.
Police in Wellington ran a joint operation in conjunction with Wellington City Council’s District Licensing Agency and Regional Public Health.
Sergeant Jason Thurston from Wellington Police said, “Our 16 year-old volunteer visited 12 off-licence
premises in and around Wellington city and was sold alcohol at two of those, which were small grocery stores.
Our volunteer didn’t have any photo identification with him, therefore these two sales should not have taken place.”
Mr Thurston said, “Police take offences against the Sale of Liquor Act very seriously and we’re doing everything we can to ensure we are educating retailers to stop this from happening.”
Enforcement agencies have recommended requiring ID from anybody appearing to be under 25 years of age.
Mr Thurston says alcohol and young people can be a dangerous mix and hopes the operation sends a signal to licensed premises that they need to be on top of their game and not sell to minors.
And he added, “Controlled purchase operations can take place anytime, anywhere.”