Two Hastings bars penalised for selling to minors

John O'Shaughnessy. Hastings District Council

Two Hastings bars will not be allowed to sell alcohol for a period after failing a controlled purchase operation earlier this year.

Bar 2013 in Karamu Road South will have its licence suspended for 5 days later this month, and its duty manager will have his manager's certificate suspended for 28 days.

While Magpies Sports Bar in King Street will have its licence suspended for 2 days later this month, and its duty manager will have his manager's certificate suspended for 28 days.

The Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority has ordered the suspension of the two Hastings alcohol licences, following failed purchase operations which saw alcohol sold to minors.

Police, Hastings District Council and District Health Board staff combined in March to carry out the operations which were aimed at reducing alcohol harm.

Hastings District Council Group Manager John O'Shaughnessy said that the different penalties imposed on the two bars took into account a previous failure on the part of Bar 2013 which saw that bar shut for 24 hours in February 2016.

Mr O'Shaughnessy said that the suspension of the bar licences would impose a significant penalty on these businesses, and he reminded all bars that a third failure within a three year period would result in an application to the Authority for cancellation of the licence.