By CHRIS DANIELS consumer reporter
Police are trying to shut down a Panmure bottle store that they say consistently sells alcohol to underage drinkers.
At a Liquor Licensing Authority hearing yesterday, Sergeant Mike Lopdell said Dionysus Kava Beer Wine & Spirits was among bottle stores monitored in March as part of a blitz on underage drinking.
Police waited outside the shop on a Friday night to see who was buying alcohol. They then stopped cars further up the street and asked the occupants how old they were.
Two of the teenagers stopped that night testified that they had bought alcohol from Dionysus Kava more than 20 times, without ever being asked for identification.
One student, 17, from Glendowie College, bought 18 beers and two 40oz bottles of spirits from the store. Another 17-year-old said he spent $140 on beer and bottles of bourbon for his friends. He had started buying alcohol from Dionysus Kava when he was 16 and had never been asked for identification.
Dionysus Kava part-owner Litsa Nionakis said she had been the only one working at the shop that night.
She recognised the two teenagers who gave evidence, but said she had believed they were old enough to buy alcohol.
Because they were known to her, she said she must have been shown age identification on an earlier occasion.
Sergeant Lopdell said Mrs Nionakis' bottle store was the only one found selling alcohol to minors during the police operation and should have its licence cancelled.
The authority reserved its decision.
Bottle store in strife after police underage-drinking sting
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.