This week I will start by talking alcohol. The minimum legal age for purchasing alcohol in New Zealand is 18 years. Alcohol affects our rangatahi differently to adults, because they are still developing – physically, mentally, and emotionally. It affects the brain’s ability to function efficiently and perform complex tasks.
Deb Hann
Under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, it is illegal to supply alcohol to a person under 18 years of age unless the supplier is the parent or legal guardian of the minor – and the alcohol is supplied in a responsible manner, or the person supplying the alcohol has the express consent of the parent or guardian of the minor (as defined in the Care of Children Act 2004), and supplies the alcohol in a responsible manner.
Last Saturday I took part in a Controlled Purchase Operation carried out across Waipā and South Waikato. This was a joint liquor licensing operation involving Waikato Police, Te Whatu Ora (Ministry of Health) and Waipā District Council. Together we checked a total of 24 licensed premises in the Waipa Territorial Authority Areas, to ensure they were adhering to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.
Controlled liquor sting. Photo: Pixabay
Of the 24 licensed premises checked, only one failed by selling or supplying alcohol to an underaged person. While a good result overall, it does highlight a lack of training and supervision at the liquor outlet. That case is now reported to the Alcohol Licensing Regulatory Authority with potential suspensions and/or sanctions to follow as a result.
On a different note, last Sunday night we had a spate of graffiti in Leamington. Taggers each have their own defined tag. This will often appear on their personal belongings as well as on graffiti around the community. Any act of graffiti done on another person’s property without permission is wilful damage. It is an offence that carries a penalty of up to 3 months imprisonment or a $2000 fine.
The presence of graffiti can affect a community’s sense of safety and once some is there, more often follows. If your fence or building is tagged, please report it to police and provide any photographic or CCTV evidence possible.
Subsequent removal will deter other taggers from adding to what is already there. The costs to remove graffiti can be substantial as one tagger will spray their tag many places. If you have any information about last Sunday’s offending, please let us know.
Alcohol
