In his decision on the company’s renewal application, dated June 28, commissioner Lyal Cocks said Queenstown Lakes District Council liquor licensing inspector Sian Swinney had made the committee aware of a controlled purchase operation in Queenstown on June 3.
Ms Swinney alleged the duty manager at the Beach St Betty’s Liquor shop had sold alcohol to a minor.
Mr Cocks said the police would be lodging an application with the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority to suspend the store’s licence.
"As this incident will be dealt with by the authority, we will not take it into account in our decision on this [off-licence renewal] application."
Neither council nor police representatives could be reached yesterday for comment on other outlets caught selling to minors during last month’s operation.
