Surreal licensee Melissa Stadler appeared before Judge John Hole in the Queenstown District Court on Monday, facing several breaches of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act relating to three separate incidents.
On October 16, Queenstown police found seven people inside the premises at 4.55am. Surreal is licensed to 4am.
Mrs Stadler said there had been a ''gross error of judgement'' on the duty manager's behalf that morning. However, the only people consuming alcohol were three staff members.
On October 21 during covert Operation Overload, undercover police officers visited the premises at 1.25am.
Constable Melanie Robertson, of Invercargill, said she and a colleague saw one male become increasingly intoxicated, consuming several shots and mixed spirits over a 90-minute period; an Asian female escorted from the premises due to her level of intoxication; bar staff drinking shots; and when asking for food at 2.40am they were told it would take 30 minutes to prepare and the bar was closing in 20.
Constable Feleki Uhrle said he and two other officers, including Liquor Licensing Sergeant Linda Stevens, visited the premises at 12.15am on August 3 for a compliance check and located two men who they took outside for assessment.
After speaking with the men, Const Uhrle said both were found to be intoxicated.
Following a hearing on Monday, Judge Hole asked Mrs Stadler to advise the authority of a weekend Surreal could be closed.
After a brief discussion yesterday Judge Hole said a formal written decision would follow, but Surreal would have its licence suspended for 48 hours from 7am, November 1.
