Dunedin venue's licence suspended after Champagne ice sculpture promotion
A Dunedin restaurant and bar will have its liquor licence suspended for three days after patrons were filmed drinking excessive amounts of Champagne from an ice sculpture during a sponsored event last year.
Vault 21, located on the Octagon, held a Moët et Chandon event at its premises in November that featured a large ice sculpture of a hollow oversized Champagne bottle set up on the footpath outside of the premises.
"Staff of the licensee company allowed alcohol to be poured freely through this ice vessel that was drunk by people crouched before it," Judge Spear said in a ruling by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority.
It was alleged Vault 21 had breached section 237(1)(a) of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, referring to the irresponsible promotion of alcohol, and more specifically that it was likely to encourage excessive consumption.
Three videos posted to Facebook showed the ice sculpture was in full view of the passing public.
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Spear said the first video showed a woman drinking directly from the ice sculpture until she "could obviously drink no more".
"This was, without question, an act at a high level of irresponsibility in relation to the promotion of alcohol."
Vault 21 owner Andre Shi accepted the promotion of alcohol was irresponsible.
Initially, the explanation was that the promotion only involved Champagne being poured down the ice sculpture into a glass - which would have limited how much people could drink.
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Spear said the Facebook video posts found the promotion was "far more extreme".
Shi agreed to a 48-hour suspension, but Spear said this would be insufficient due to the promotion occurring on the footpath in full view of the public in central Dunedin.
Vault 21 subsequently had had its liquor licence suspended for 72 hours between 8am on Wednesday, June 11 to Saturday, June 14.
1News has approached Vault 21 for comment.
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