A liquor store next to Dunedin's student quarter has had its licence suspended for three weeks after it sold RTDs to a 17-year-old boy during a police sting.
The decision from Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority came after Super Liquor Dunedin, on Malcolm St, was pulled up on two previous controlled purchase operations for selling for minors.
The store's owners Patricia and Kenneth McCarthy escaped more severe punishment, with Dunedin Police asking the authority to cancel the licences of the Malcolm St outlet and the other six liquor stores run by the couple.
Sergeant Ian Paulin said it was the licence-holder's seventh failure in nine years and there had been no changes in the way they operated their outlets.
The failures were connected by a common theme of a licensee that employed young inexperienced people who worked by themselves.
In the latest failure, on October 16 last year, a 17-year-old boy purchased a four pack of RTDs, worth $12.
The man behind the counter did not ask the boy's age and when spoken to a short time later the man behind the counter thought he looked over 25.
Sgt Paulin noted that the location of the store, near the student flatting area and halls of residence, was a concern as expected a licensee that operated in such an environment to have secure systems in place to prevent minors purchasing alcohol.
Mrs McCarthy said the store had recently made changes to the way it operated, which including all staff having to ask for identification from anyone who looked under 30 rather than the previous under 25 policy.
They had a zero tolerance policy in regard to managers committing any breaches of the Act, with most cases resulting in dismissal.
She acknowledged a lack of experience had contributed to some of the failures and they were now making a concerted effort to hire older and more experienced staff.
In coming to its decision the authority said it was disappointed the couple had not learnt from past mistakes.
``To say that we are extremely disappointed that this licensee has taken so long to come to the realisation of the position it is in, would be an understatement.''
However ,the authority recognised it was now making a ``more concerted'' effort and hence felt cancellation of the licences would be a ``disproportionate sanction at this stage''.
``It needs to be made clear to the respondents however that any future transgressions will most certainly put the licences in jeopardy.''
The Malcolm St store's licence will be suspended from September 26 until October 17.
