Latest Controlled Purchase Operation brings mixed results

NZ Police and Northland DHB staff recently carried out Controlled Purchase Operations at licensed premises in the Bay of Islands and Whangarei areas with mixed results.

During the two day operation, underage volunteers attempted to purchase alcohol from off-licensed premises. Two of the 18 licensed premises sold to the under-age teen in the Bay of Islands operation while no sales were made to the under-age teens in the Whangarei operation in which 19 licensed premises were tested.

Kerikeri Police Alcohol Harm Reduction Officer, Constable Graeme Wright, says the result was disappointing.

The majority of our licensed premises remain compliant however, this operation not only checked compliance of Off-Licence premises, it also included a check of a special licensed event. A number of wineries in our region apply for special licenses to sell alcohol at our local markets and shows throughout the year. Unfortunately, the operation found a local winery sold a bottle of wine to the underage teen at a local market.

“Special licenses are not exempt from being monitored for compliance. All licensees should have had good 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.

“I do not expect that sales of alcohol should be occurring. The fallout from youth accessing alcohol is well-documented”, said Constable Graeme Wright.

“As a community, we need to have confidence that license holders will not sell alcohol to our youth. This latest operation has shown some lax systems and 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.”

Meanwhile, an operation in the greater Whangarei area resulted in full compliance from the 19 Off-Licensed premises that were tested. Sergeant Howard Clement said, “The result was very good. Particularly in the lead up to the festive season, it is very pleasing that all the licensed premises tested in the Whangarei area are asking for identification and checking ages of young people”.

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:

Bay of Islands premises: 18 premises resulted in two sales
Whangarei premises: 19 premises resulted in no sales

Recent Controlled Purchase Operation Statistics – Mid and Far North

Nov 14 Mid North 13 Attempts – No Sales
Dec 14 Mid North 11 Attempts – 2 Sales
Feb 15 Mid North 14 Attempts – No Sales
Apr 15 Hokianga/Mid North 10 Attempts – No Sales
Jun 15 Far North 10 Attempts – No Sales
Aug 15 Mid North 16 Attempts – No Sales

Recent Controlled Purchase Operation Statistics – Whangarei

Feb 2014 14 Attempts – 1 Sale
Jun 2014 17 Attempts – 2 Sales
Aug 2014 16 Attempts – No Sales
Dec 2014 16 Attempts – No Sales
Feb 2015 19 Attempts – 3 Sales
Oct 2015 22 Attempts – 1 Sale

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