SHOCK PURCHASES

Northland DHB and police are shocked at two recent controlled purchase operations conducted at licensed premises throughout Northland. The operations saw underage volunteers attempting to purchase alcohol from licensed premises in the Bay of Islands and Whangarei. The operations resulted in eight sales; four from the 11 outlets tested in the Bay of Islands and four from the 23 outlets tested in Whangarei. Senior Constable Graeme Wright says this was disappointing. ‘‘These sales should not be occurring. All applicants when they make application for a license to sell alcohol state there are appropriate systems in place to prevent the sale of alcohol to underage people.’’