Eight out of 11 South Waikato stores targeted by an underage drinking sting have been caught selling alcohol to minors.
A second operation in Tauranga found eight out of 46 businesses selling alcohol to teens.
The Waikato operation, run by police, the South Waikato District Council, and the National Public Health Service, used an underage volunteer who tried to buy alcohol from a range of on- and off-licensed premises across the area.
Sergeant Greg Weston said eight out of 11 businesses failed to check the volunteer’s ID.
“I’m extremely disappointed with the level of non-compliance, and genuinely shocked,” he said.
Weston said just one business failed during the previous operation in the area.
“There is absolutely no excuse for outlets not to have good systems and processes for checking IDs, especially when they are operating in vulnerable communities.
“The messaging is very clear – no ID, no service,” he said.
The businesses that failed were spoken to, and “will learn of the outcomes in due course”.
Premises found to be selling alcohol to minors could have operations suspended or have their liquor license cancelled. Duty managers could also have their licences suspended.
Weston said police would continue to monitor businesses and conduct similar stings.
The Tauranga operation, run by the Tauranga City Council Alcohol Licensing Team with police, took place on August 9 and visited 46 businesses.
Eight of the establishments failed to verify the buyer’s age or check their identification. Among them were bottle shops, grocery stores and one “prominent supermarket”.
“When questioned by alcohol licensing inspectors, the duty managers admitted they had not verified the minor’s age or, in some cases, not requested appropriate identification. Instead, they completed the sale and allowed the purchase to proceed,” Tauranga City Council alcohol licensing team leader Sam Kemp said.
Licensing inspectors and police would submit suspension applications for both the duty managers who were on duty at the time of the breaches and the off-licences of the businesses that failed.
Kemp said the operation’s results highlighted “serious shortcomings” in the in-store training and policies for some businesses.
“Selling alcohol to minors is a serious offence, and we will continue to take firm action to ensure public safety and uphold the law.”
