Rotorua Police conducted a controlled purchase operation on Friday, 25 August, alongside Rotorua District Lakes Council Liquor Licensing Inspector and the Technical Officer from Taoi Te Ora – Public Health.
Controlled purchase operations are carried out to check processes and ensure compliance with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 by licensed premises.
The operation saw underage volunteers, aged 17 years old, visit licensed premises in the area in an attempt to purchase alcohol. Premises included supermarkets, liquor stores and superettes. The operation resulted in four sales from 18 outlets, two from the same store.
Sergeant Pauline Jones, Alcohol Harm Reduction Officer, Rotorua Police says this is extremely disappointing.
“No one under the age of 18 should be able to purchase alcohol and we expect the three premises who did sell alcohol to our volunteers to have better systems in place to prevent this occurring in the future.”
“As part of the process to obtain a license to sell alcohol, applicants receive training and are interviewed to ensure that they have a clear understanding of the Act,” says Pauline. “There is an assurance that there are appropriate systems and procedures in place to prevent the sale of alcohol to underage people. Clearly this is not the case for these premises that sold alcohol to the volunteers.
“CPOs are not designed to ‘catch people out’,” she says. “They are necessary to monitor compliance with the Act.
“Police consider a successful operation to be one where our volunteers are not able to buy alcohol at any of the premises.
“I would like to thank the other participating outlets that did comply with the Act and refused to provide the volunteers with alcohol.”
Police and partner agencies will continue to facilitate these operations and work with local licensees to ensure they are aware of their obligations and are appropriately supported to comply with the Act.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre