Latest news with #MervynChetty
Scoop
4 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Bottle Shops Caught Selling Alcohol To Minors
Eleven bottle shops and stores across Auckland have been caught selling booze to under-18s in the past year. Black Bull Northcote, Simply Fresh in Hillcrest, Glengarry Ellerslie, Brew Royal Oak, Bottle O Mount Smart, Grand Food Mart in Orewa, Kowhai Liquor Centre at Warkworth, Wine and Spirits in Flat Bush, Forrest Hill Liquor Centre, Favona Liquor Wholesale and Unsworth Liquor - had their licences to sell alcohol suspended briefly for breaching the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. The stores were caught during several controlled purchase operations conducted by Auckland Council's Alcohol Licensing Unit, police and the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, from last May to date. Auckland Council manager of licensing and environmental health Mervyn Chetty said there were clear expectations that anyone granted an alcohol licence will follow the rules. "Selling alcohol to a minor is against the law," Chetty said. "It puts young people at serious risk of alcohol related harm including injuries and accidents." Glengarry Ellerslie, Brew Royal Oak, Kowhai Liquor Centre, Black Bull Northcote, Wine and Spirits, Forrest Hill Liquor Centre, Favona Liquor Wholesale and Unsworth Liquor were suspended for 48 hours. Bottle O Mt Smart was suspended for 72 hours in March, while Simply Fresh in Hillcrest and Grand Food Mart in Orewa were handed seven day suspensions in April and January respectively. Another off-licence, Good to Go in the central district, was suspended for 21 days for a series of breaches. The store had no manager on duty, failed to give notice of manager appointments, had unauthorised sale, and sold RTDs at a grocery. The suspensions have all been completed, Chetty said. Controlled purchase operations are conducted to test compliance with laws against selling alcohol to minors. "As all licence holders will know, suspensions are put in place for first-time offenders, however repeat offences may carry greater penalties which are set out in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act," Chetty said. "Every alcohol licence comes with rules and conditions to support the sale and supply of alcohol in a safe and responsible manner, which will help reduce alcohol related harm." The suspensions were handed out by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA).
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Bottle shops caught selling alcohol to minors
Eleven bottle shops and stores across Auckland have been caught selling booze to under-18s in the past year. Black Bull Northcote, Simply Fresh in Hillcrest, Glengarry Ellerslie, Brew Royal Oak, Bottle O Mount Smart, Grand Food Mart in Orewa, Kowhai Liquor Centre at Warkworth, Wine and Spirits in Flat Bush, Forrest Hill Liquor Centre, Favona Liquor Wholesale and Unsworth Liquor - had their licences to sell alcohol suspended briefly for breaching the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. The stores were caught during several controlled purchase operations conducted by Auckland Council's Alcohol Licensing Unit, police and the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, from last May to date. Auckland Council manager of licensing and environmental health Mervyn Chetty said there were clear expectations that anyone granted an alcohol licence will follow the rules. "Selling alcohol to a minor is against the law," Chetty said. "It puts young people at serious risk of alcohol related harm including injuries and accidents." Glengarry Ellerslie, Brew Royal Oak, Kowhai Liquor Centre, Black Bull Northcote, Wine and Spirits, Forrest Hill Liquor Centre, Favona Liquor Wholesale and Unsworth Liquor were suspended for 48 hours. Bottle O Mt Smart was suspended for 72 hours in March, while Simply Fresh in Hillcrest and Grand Food Mart in Orewa were handed seven-day suspensions in April and January respectively. Another off-licence, Good to Go in the central district, was suspended for 21 days for a series of breaches. The store had no manager on duty, failed to give notice of manager appointments, had unauthorised sale, and sold RTDs at a grocery. The suspensions have all been completed, Chetty said. Controlled purchase operations are conducted to test compliance with laws against selling alcohol to minors. "As all licence holders will know, suspensions are put in place for first-time offenders, however repeat offences may carry greater penalties which are set out in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act," Chetty said. "Every alcohol licence comes with rules and conditions to support the sale and supply of alcohol in a safe and responsible manner, which will help reduce alcohol related harm." The suspensions were handed out by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA). - Torika Tokalau, Local democracy reporter LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Bottle shops caught selling alcohol to minors
Several bottle shops in Auckland have been caught selling alcohol to minors. File photo. Photo: 123rf Eleven bottle shops and stores across Auckland have been caught selling booze to under-18s in the past year. Black Bull Northcote, Simply Fresh in Hillcrest, Glengarry Ellerslie, Brew Royal Oak, Bottle O Mount Smart, Grand Food Mart in Orewa, Kowhai Liquor Centre at Warkworth, Wine and Spirits in Flat Bush, Forrest Hill Liquor Centre, Favona Liquor Wholesale and Unsworth Liquor - had their licences to sell alcohol suspended briefly for breaching the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. The stores were caught during several controlled purchase operations conducted by Auckland Council's Alcohol Licensing Unit, police and the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, from last May to date. Auckland Council manager of licensing and environmental health Mervyn Chetty said there were clear expectations that anyone granted an alcohol licence will follow the rules. "Selling alcohol to a minor is against the law," Chetty said. "It puts young people at serious risk of alcohol related harm including injuries and accidents." Glengarry Ellerslie, Brew Royal Oak, Kowhai Liquor Centre, Black Bull Northcote, Wine and Spirits, Forrest Hill Liquor Centre, Favona Liquor Wholesale and Unsworth Liquor were suspended for 48 hours. Bottle O Mt Smart was suspended for 72 hours in March, while Simply Fresh in Hillcrest and Grand Food Mart in Orewa were handed seven day suspensions in April and January respectively. Another off-licence, Good to Go in the central district, was suspended for 21 days for a series of breaches. The store had no manager on duty, failed to give notice of manager appointments, had unauthorised sale, and sold RTDs at a grocery. The suspensions have all been completed, Chetty said. Controlled purchase operations are conducted to test compliance with laws against selling alcohol to minors. "As all licence holders will know, suspensions are put in place for first-time offenders, however repeat offences may carry greater penalties which are set out in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act," Chetty said. "Every alcohol licence comes with rules and conditions to support the sale and supply of alcohol in a safe and responsible manner, which will help reduce alcohol related harm." The suspensions were handed out by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA). LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Council to step up investigation into source of asbestos found on East Auckland beaches
Asbestos-containing material (ACM) was found washed up at beaches in Glendowie, Karaka Bays and up theTāmaki River towards Panmure. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Council Auckland Council said it is stepping up efforts to find the source of asbestos-containing material (ACM) washing up on East Auckland beaches. While the risk to the public was considered low, the council advised people to avoid picking up the contaminated cement board fragments at affected beaches, including Glendowie Bay and Karaka Bay. Asbestos-containing material (ACM) was found washed up at beaches in Glendowie, Karaka Bays and up theTāmaki River towards Panmure. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Council The council's Manager of Environmental Health, Mervyn Chetty, told RNZ that despite regular clean-ups, the material had been washing ashore on Auckland's eastern coastline for years, particularly after severe storms. "The issue has not gone away, clearly, we need to revisit our approach in dealing with this and do a little bit more to work out the extent of the contamination and the best way forward in managing this." He said the material was believed to be old construction waste, but they were continuing to investigate where it originated. Asbestos-containing material (ACM) was found washed up at beaches in Glendowie, Karaka Bays and up theTāmaki River towards Panmure. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Council He said he was aware of schools in the area doing activities with groups of students at the beaches. "Ideally, no activity should be conducted in areas where there's any ACM present. "We've been in contact with the Ministry of Education, who have provided advice to the schools in the area." He said that while people did not need to avoid the beaches, people, including children, should leave it to the council to clean up the ACM. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Council warns of washed up asbestos on East Auckland beaches
Asbestos-containing material (ACM) was found washed up at beaches in Glendowie, Karaka Bays and up theTāmaki River towards Panmure. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Council Auckland Council is warning that fragments of fibre cement board washing up on beaches in East Auckland contain asbestos. The council said 5-10cm long pieces of asbestos-containing material (ACM) were found at Glendowie and Karaka Bays. It said small amounts of ACM were also found further up the Tāmaki River towards Panmure. The council said warning signs had been put up at affected beaches, and cleanups were underway to remove the material. Auckland Council's Manager of Environmental Health, Mervyn Chetty, said the risk to the public was low and people did not need to avoid the beaches. Asbestos-containing material (ACM) was found washed up at beaches in Glendowie, Karaka Bays and up theTāmaki River towards Panmure. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Council But he advised people not to touch the fragments if they did come across them. "We are asking people to take a common-sense approach and to simply leave ACM alone for the council to collect. "Dogs and children should also be prevented from picking up the material." The council said they were continuing to investigate the source of the ACM, but Chetty said it was likely from historic construction waste. "Unfortunately, waste disposal practices were not always what they are today. The ACM we're finding now is likely to be decades-old construction waste that was dumped near the shoreline, which over time has fragmented and dispersed along beaches due to natural processes like tides and weather." Inhaling significant amounts of airborne asbestos can lead to respiratory issues, including lung cancer. But Health New Zealand Medical Officer of Health Dr David Sinclair said the riskiest situation was when dust was generated from ACM being cut or damaged, such as during construction work. "In outdoor settings such as the affected beaches, we'd expect the level of asbestos dust to be minimal, especially when the material is below the high tide mark and damp. "However, people should inform Auckland Council if they find ACM so it can be removed, and not disturb the ACM pieces or collect them." The council said it would continue to inspect and monitor beaches in the East Auckland area to determine the scale of the issue. It reminded people to responsibly secure and dispose of construction and household waste, to avoid them making their way to waterways and beaches, particularly after storm events. Anyone with information about the source of the washed-up ACM is asked to report it to healthenforcement@ Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
