Countdown has accepted the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority’s decision to suspend liquor licenses for three of its Auckland stores but was disappointed that they had failed a controlled purchase operation.
Judge James Weir says the repeated breaches by some stores elsewhere in the country suggested systemic issues with the chain. The latest breaches in Auckland were for underage sales but the Authority said it was concerned at other recent breaches. The company has introduced measures and further training for staff to minimise future risks including double authorisation and mystery shoppers.
