Charges follow police raid on sophisticated garage bar

Police have busted a sophisticated "garage bar" operating allegedly without a liquor licence in the Christchurch suburb of Linwood.

Christchurch police licensing section head Acting Sergeant Al Lawn told NZPA the garage was well set up and appeared to be aimed at a "mates of mates" clientele who learnt of the bar by word of mouth.

"It was definitely set up like a bar. It was a bar in a garage. They had a data projector and a screen, leaners and all the trappings," he said.

Gaming machines were also discovered in the police raid in August that included Internal Affairs Department inspectors and Christchurch City Council licensing staff.

Mr Lawn said police had been alerted to the operation through several phone calls from the public. It was the first clandestine bar open to the public found in Christchurch.

"We've previously come across gangs operating bars for their own members and invited guests which is illegal. You can't sell alcohol (without a licence)."

The bars alleged operators are expected to appear in Christchurch District Court later this month.

Penalties for running unlicensed bars or drinking in them were doubled in 1999, Mr Lawn said.

Under the Sale of Liquor Act a person convicted of operating an illegal bar can be fined up to $20,000 and those guilty of being found on unlicensed premises face fines of up to $2000.

Mr Lawn said so-called "garage bars" had attracted police and hospitality industry attention nationally and a new streamlined reporting process had been set up to help identify them.

- NZPA