Wanaka police are pleased with an increased level of communication between their community liaison unit and the town's liquor retailers.
Wanaka sub-area commander Senior Sergeant Allan Grindell highlighted the relationship as a contributing factor to a recent successful liquor licensing operation aimed at under-age buyers of alcohol.
A Queenstown-based liquor-licensing unit recently conducted a covert operation in Wanaka to ensure outlets were not selling alcohol to minors aged under 18, Snr Sgt Grindell said.
All five Wanaka liquor outlets had complied with their legal obligations and had not sold alcohol to an under-aged person, who had visited the stores and tried to buy products without identification, he said.
"It's a pleasing result. Our community policing unit has made a concentrated effort to keep liquor retailers informed about their under-age requirements and it appears to be working." Snr Sgt Grindell said.
