The Arrowtown pub was slapped with a 10-day suspension by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (Arla) last month after police caught staff serving alcohol to a minor.
The suspension — the longest ordered in the district — was to start at 8am yesterday, but was deferred to a March 23 start after Arla reconsidered the case on Thursday. The deferral meant the hotel was able to continue trading yesterday, on the eve of today’s Motatapu multisport event, which finishes in Arrowtown.
It will also be able to trade on St Patrick’s Day next Saturday. Arla ordered the suspension after the hotel’s sixth breach of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act in the past five years. Four of the breaches involved the sale of alcohol to minors.
In his decision on Thursday, Judge Kevin Kelly said submissions by the hotel’s counsel, Tanya Surrey, argued the length of the suspension was "unduly harsh", and a five-day suspension was more appropriate.
The Queenstown area had an significant influx of visitors for St Patrick’s Day celebrations, and the hotel had hired a band for the day, Ms Surrey said.
It had also received bookings for functions during the suspension period. Judge Kelly said the period of suspension would stand, but deferring its start until March 23 was "not unreasonable". Ms Surrey said the hotel was considering appealing the length of the suspension.
