The operation was carried out on Sunday, 30 November, by the Tauranga City Council Alcohol Licensing team, Western Bay of Plenty Police, and a representative from the Medical Officer of Health.
It targeted off-licence bottle stores in the Tauranga to ensure alcohol wasn’t being sold to minors in breach of the city’s Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act. A total of 35 premises were visited.
Tauranga City Council Alcohol Licensing Team Leader Sam Kemp says while any failure is concerning, particularly as this is the second time this premise had sold to a minor, the overall result reflects a significant improvement compared to the eight failures recorded during each of the previous two operations.
“Selling alcohol to minors is illegal and poses serious risks to community safety. While we’re pleased to see compliance improving, any breach is unacceptable. The results show progress but reinforce the need for continued vigilance.”
Tauranga Alcohol Licensing Inspectors will be submitting a suspension application to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority and will continue conducting these operations to ensure licensees remain compliant and to minimise alcohol-related harm in the community.
“We will continue working with licensees to ensure they understand their responsibilities and will take firm action to uphold the law. Licensees need to be particularly careful as we head into the summer festive season where higher customer volumes can heighten the risk of underage sales,” Sam says.
Permanent and temporary alcohol-free zones are in place across Tauranga over the upcoming holiday period to help create a safe, family-friendly environment. These areas are designed to reduce alcohol-related harm and ensure that everyone can enjoy the festivities without unnecessary risk.
Police will also have an increased presence, including checkpoints and patrols leading up to, and during, New Year’s Eve. Anyone found drinking alcohol in these designated zones – including inside vehicles – faces confiscation of the alcohol and on-the-spot fines.
Maps showing permanent and temporary alcohol-free areas are available on the Tauranga City Council website.