Teens slide under age bar

Underage drinkers can still buy alcohol with ease, say Auckland police.

A police operation in the city and suburbs last weekend showed staff in more than a third of the bars and bottle stores visited sold alcohol to minors without checking their identification.
Police checked bars and liquor outlets in Ponsonby, Kingsland, Mt Eden, Three Kings west to Avondale and the Auckland City border.

Senior Constable Jason Loye said of the 26 bars and liquor outlets visited, nine failed to ask for identification and sold alcohol to minors.

Mr Loye said the bars and taverns with door security did not break the law but those without security needed to be more vigilant in asking for identification.

Off-licence premises needed to ensure staff were adequately trained and mature enough to refuse service.

"This result is very disappointing considering all the advertising and training directed at bar staff and managers," he said.

- NZPA