Two Lower Hutt bars will be reported to the Liquor Licensing Authority for selling alcohol to minors.
The action comes after police, together with Regional Public Health and the Hutt City Council, ran a controlled purchase operation targeting bars in both Lower and Upper Hutt last Friday night.
Sergeant Dean Gifford, Lower Hutt Liquor Licensing officer, says the operation was designed to test the compliance level relating to the sale of alcohol to people under the age of 18 years.
Nineteen bars were visited with two Lower Hutt bars committing offences by selling alcohol to minors. These offences will be dealt with under the provisions of the Sale of Liquor Act 1989.
"We're pleased with the bars that requested ID, but disappointed with the two which sold to the minors," Sergeant Gifford says. "Most of the bars visited were conscious of their obligations to ask for ID from young patrons, so it is disappointing that two have let the side down."
The operation was the first to target bars in Lower Hutt and will be repeated. It was part of a joint initiative with the Hutt City Council and Regional Public Health to reduce incidents of alcohol-related harm in the Hutt Valley.
"There will be more operations targeting both on and off licence premises in the Hutt Valley area," Sergeant Gifford says.
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