The Liquor Licensing Authority (LLA) has suspended a Kurow hotel's trading licence for two days, after police successfully prosecuted the premises for selling alcohol to an intoxicated 19-year-old man who later crashed and died while driving drunk.
A police and coronial investigation found Mitchell Thomas Clarke's blood-alcohol level of 220mg was more than seven times the then legal blood-alcohol limit of 30mg for a young driver when he crashed his car at high speed on State Highway 83 near Otekaieke on Easter Sunday, 2011.
The Duntroon teenager had been drinking at the Kurow and Duntroon hotels on the night of his death, and police had decided to prosecute both pubs.
However, the Duntroon Hotel had since closed its doors, leading to the cancellation of its licence and the duty manager's certificate, so the LLA had only penalised the Kurow Hotel.
The Kurow Hotel has been suspended from trading for 48 hours on September 15 and September 16 and the duty manager's certificate has been suspended for 30 days.
Oamaru alcohol harm reduction and inquests officer Sergeant Tony Woodbridge said Mr Clarke's death had been "an avoidable tragedy."
"This was not an accident, it was avoidable and it should not have happened.
"Along with Mitchell's family, we hope that people learn from these terrible circumstances.
"In particular, we hope attention is given to the host responsibility that goes hand in hand with holding a liquor licence, and the responsibility of friends to ensure their mates get home safely.
"Most importantly, our plea is that people accept the individual responsibility that we all have to not drink and drive, as the cost is borne by the entire community."
During the coronial inquest, it emerged that on the night in question Mr Clarke, who was described by his family as a "good son" and a "high achiever", ignored pleas from at least one person not to drive.
