A Wanaka liquor outlet may face prosecution for selling alcohol to a 15-year-old boy in May.
Senior Constable Ian Henderson confirmed yesterday he would be recommending the action to Queenstown liquor licensing officer Sergeant Keith Newall after his investigation into a youth binge-drinking incident before a Mt Aspiring College concert on May 21.
Snr Const Henderson said the 15-year-old boy had voluntarily admitted he bought the alcohol for himself and several underage friends before the MacStock concert and had been referred to Wanaka youth aid officer Constable Phil Vink.
The boy is alleged to have bought pre-mixed bourbon and cola bottles, beer and cider from an unnamed bottle store, worth about $120.
The boy could have kept quiet "but was man enough to fess up, hence my recommendation for a warning", Snr Const Henderson said.
He declined to release the name of the bottle store but said the staff had been "really helpful".
His investigation followed the admission to hospital of two teenagers with alcohol poisoning on the night of MacStock.
Snr Const Henderson said Wanaka liquor outlets were caught several years ago supplying alcohol to minors after a police "sting".
Police had recently looked at outlets again but had not found any breaches, he said.
Const Vink said yesterday he had just received the file and had not yet determined how the case would be resolved, but the boy was unlikely to end up in Youth Court.
Wanaka's first public community forum on drinking-culture issues will be held at the Lake Wanaka Centre today from 1.30pm.
The forum was suggested at a Wanaka Community Board meeting after the MacStock incident and has the support of Mt Aspiring College, youth workers, police and parent groups.
