September 10, 2015

Latest Controlled Purchase Operation brings disappointing result

A Controlled Purchase Operation at licensed premises in the Kaipara East area has shocked NZ Police and Northland DHB staff who conducted it.

During the operation, two underage volunteers attempted to purchase alcohol from licensed premises. Two of the eight licensed premises sold to the under-age teens.

Whangarei/Kaipara Police Alcohol Harm Reduction officer, Sergeant Howard Clement, says the result was disappointing.

“The premises involved should have had better systems in place regarding the sale of alcohol to minors.”

Northland DHB and police have been running joint Controlled Purchase Operations (CPOs) in Northland for almost ten years. Says Sergeant Clement: “I do not expect that sales of alcohol should be occurring. The fallout from youth accessing alcohol is well-documented. As a community, we need to have confidence that license-holders will not sell alcohol to our youth. This latest operation has shown lax systems and considerable improvement is required. All licensees and their staff should assess the age of anyone who appears under the age of 25 by insisting on a form of photo identification. No photo identification, no sale - it is that simple.”

CPOs are part of an ongoing programme to assess compliance with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 in an effort to address the access to alcohol by minors. In accordance with the Act, applications for suspension or cancellation of license and managers’ certificates will be made for those premises who failed the CPO.

Operation statistics:
• Off Licensed premises: four premises resulted in no sales
• On Licensed premises: four premises resulted in two sales

Recent Controlled Purchase Operation Statistics – Kaipara
• Jun 2013 17 Attempts – No Sales
• Apr 2014 20 Attempts – 2 Sales
• Oct 2014 10 Attempts – No Sales
• Feb 2015 15 Attempts – No Sales
• Sep 2015 8 Attempts – 2 Sales

ENDS

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