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Police are scratching their heads in disappointment after a controlled liquor purchase operation in Christchurch and Selwyn districts showed nine of 21 outlets selling alcohol to minors.
The operation, involving the police liquor licensing section, Selwyn District Council and Christchurch City Council licensing inspectors and public health officials, targeted liquor outlets in both Selwyn and central Christchurch last Friday.
Sergeant Al Lawn, head of the Christchurch police liquor licensing section, said today the team was "extremely disappointed" with the results, especially in the Selwyn district.
A similar operation in Selwyn in August showed six of 10 outlets selling to minors. Two of those outlets had been suspended previously for selling alcohol to minors after breaching the Sale of Liquor Act last year.
"There is an expectation within the team that no licensed premises will sell to our underage volunteers," Mr Lawn said.
"Out of 21 premises visited during the operation, nine of the premises sold liquor to our volunteers."
Of nine outlets visited in Selwyn, six made sales, while in Christchurch three of the 12 outlets visited sold to the underage volunteers.
"How hard is it to ask for identification before a sale?" Mr Lawn asked.
He said the volunteers - aged 16 and 17 - carried no identification and didn't lie if questioned about their age.
Mr Lawn said police would seek licence suspensions for all nine outlets and would continue to target liquor outlets known to sell alcohol to minors.
- NZPA
