Alac welcomes tough police stance on after-ball parties

Alac is supporting police calls for commercially run after-balls where alcohol is supplied to minors to be prosecuted to the full effect of the law. File photo / NZ Herald

A police crackdown on boozy after-ball parties has been welcomed by the Alcohol Advisory Council (Alac).

Auckland police have written to high school principals asking them to remind students and parents that the often all-you-can-drink events were illegal.

Last year, 15 after-balls were cancelled due to concerns over drunken behaviour. Organisers typically sell tickets to the events and provide transport to and from a secret location.

Alac chief executive Gerard Vaughan today said under-18s could only drink alcohol supplied by a parent or guardian.

"While the Sale of Liquor Act allows under-18s to drink alcohol at a private social gathering, usually a private home or family gathering, it does not allow minors to be served alcohol at events such as these commercially run after-balls where students purchase tickets which cover the cost of the alcohol," he said.

"Alac supports police calls for commercially run after-balls where alcohol is supplied to minors to be prosecuted to the full effect of the law."

- NZPA