A Texan man insisted a Queenstown district licensing committee make a ruling on his manager’s certificate application, despite the committee’s chairman telling him he was "embarrassing" himself in persisting with it.
Chairman Bill Unwin told Travis Clark (26) his conviction in March for drink-driving meant his application had no chance of success.
Case law had established a two-year stand-down period in such situations.
"You’re embarrassing yourself right now, if you don’t mind me saying so. You’re asking for something we can’t give you," Mr Unwin said.
Mr Clark appeared before the committee of Mr Unwin, Lyal Cocks and John Mann on Tuesday.
Mr Unwin invited him to withdraw his application to spare himself the embarrassment of having the decision appear on the public record.
Mr Clark’s conviction stemmed from an incident in February, when he crashed his 200cc motorbike on Fernhill Rd while a woman was riding on the back.
As well as recording a breath-alcohol level of 500mcg — twice the legal limit — he was not wearing a helmet and did not have a motorcycle licence.
Queenstown Lakes District Council alcohol licensing team leader Sian Swinney said Mr Clark first applied for the certificate 12 months ago, but was told to wait for a year so he could gain more experience in his night manager’s role at the Heritage Hotel.
The application was opposed by police when it was reactivated in June.
Ms Swinney said Mr Clark posted a message on social media on Monday saying he was leaving New Zealand today.
It gave her the impression he was not intending to return, so she rang the Heritage Hotel to ask if he was still employed there.
She was told he had resigned in June.
Sergeant Tracy Haggart, of Queenstown police, asked Mr Clark why he was persisting with the application when he was leaving the country.
He replied he was going on holiday and there was a "strong possibility" he would return.
Referring to the social media post from the day before, Sgt Haggart asked him what he meant by: "... some things never change — I’m a sucker for the bottle".
Mr Clark denied he had an alcohol problem, claiming he drank about once a week.
He wanted the committee to pardon him on "blind trust" that he was now motivated to help prevent alcohol-related incidents in the course of his work.
Issuing the committee’s decision, Mr Unwin said manager’s certificates were not issued "so they may be placed on a wall and admired from time to time".
The applicant did not have a job in the industry, therefore he did not have an employer to support and supervise him.
The committee did not accept that Mr Clark’s stated aim of preventing others suffering alcohol-related harm was his only reason for persisting with the application.
A manager’s certificate could be useful in other countries, such as when applying for a job or residency.
