Alcohol groups advocate under-25 ID law

People who look under 25 should be asked for identification when buying alcohol, say alcohol advisory groups.

The call to change the law, supported by Auckland City Council officers, comes after a ruling that an Auckland supermarket does not have to ask people between 18 and 25 for proof of age.

The Liquor Licensing Authority ruled that a condition to ensure all under-25s produced identification was unreasonable, unlawful and stopped people aged between 18 and 25 legitimately buying alcohol.

Alcohol Advisory Council chief executive Mike MacAvoy said the law should be changed so it was compulsory to request identification.

"Regardless of age, if a licensee has any doubt, they should ask for proof of age."

Young people whose age could not be verified should be refused a sale rather than risk selling to a potential minor, he said.

"If they can't be sure, they have every right to protect their business."

Alcohol Healthwatch director Rebecca Williams was disappointed with the ruling, but said it at least clarified the law.

"It currently isn't in law that premises must [ask for] ID, and we think it should be. We want something that's clear in law and easy to police."

Auckland City Council monitoring and compliance team leader Geoff Atherfold said the ruling meant the Auckland District Licensing Agency would remove that particular condition from all existing licences as they came up for renewal.

Mr Atherfold said the council would continue using sting operations.

He also supported a law change.

"It takes that margin for error out of the equation."

Progressive Enterprises managing director Richard Umbers said his firm's Foodtown and Woolworths supermarkets would all continue to request identification from customers who appeared to be under 25.