Busted for selling alcohol to children

The Editor
Bay of Plenty Times

Dear Sir
'Well done' to the Liquor Licensing Authority for closing down the Omanu Omanu Wines & Spirits liquor store, and congratulations to Sgt Nigel McGlone and the other licensing agencies for their tenacity in bringing about this outcome. This store has been a blight in our community and is well-known for selling alcohol to under 18s.

I also want to applaud the positive efforts being made by the majority of liquor stores, including the big liquor chains and supermarkets, through the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty Off-Licence Alcohol Accord. This initiative is a partnership between the retailers, the monitoring and enforcement agencies, and the community health promotion sector. OLAA as it is known promotes responsible retailing of alcohol, and in particular, supports campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the risks and harm that arise from the sale and supply of alcohol to teens. The members will be pleased with this latest outcome because it contradicts everything they stand for. I want to encourage the retailers to keep lifting their game because that will help expose the dodgy and illegal operators who bring the business into disrepute.

Michael Mills
Tauranga Safe City Coordinator