Latest news with #Vault21
1News
2 days ago
- 1News
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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including new corruption report, California protests, and Justin Baldoni's legal loss. (Source: 1News) 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.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Nightclub's licence suspended after patrons filmed drinking champagne out of ice sculpture
A Dunedin nightclub has had its liquor licence temporarily suspended after patrons were filmed drinking champagne excessively from an ice sculpture in the street. One video, which showed a woman at Vault 21 drinking until she could not anymore, was labelled an act "at a high level of irresponsibility" by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority. The suspension of the Octagon bar and restaurant's on-licence was called for by the Dunedin City Council, a decision issued by the authority said. Judge Robert Spear said it was alleged the bar and restaurant promoted alcohol irresponsibly through acts which likely encouraged people to consume alcohol to an excessive extent. Those acts took place in November last year when, as part of a sponsored Moët et Chandon event, a large ice sculpture of a "hollow oversized champagne wine bottle" was set up on the footpath outside Vault 21. Staff allowed alcohol to be poured freely through one end of the vessel and was drunk by people "crouched below the mouth of the ice sculpture", Judge Spear said. "Three videos extracted from Facebook show that this large ice sculpture was in full view of the passing public which, of course, this being the Octagon is at the very centre of Dunedin city." One video retrieved 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." It appeared the people shown in the videos were not young people or students, and in two of the cases involved "people of more mature years", he said. Vault 21 owner Andre Shi had accepted the promotion of alcohol was irresponsible. The initial explanation was the promotion only involved champagne being poured down the ice sculpture into a glass, limiting the amount available for consumption, Judge Spear said. "However, the Facebook video posts were subsequently found that showed that the promotion was far more extreme." Mr Shi had been willing to accept a 48-hour suspension, but the authority considered this would be an insufficient response to the offence. "Particularly because this promotion happened out on the footpath in accordingly in full view of the public. "We could have accepted a 48-hour suspension if this had happened inside the premises and away from the eyes of the passing public, but that was not the case." The authority was aware Vault 21 was a popular venue in the middle of the city, but other outlets needed to understand what standards were acceptable and what were not. A 72-hour suspension was reluctantly accepted by Mr Shi, Judge Spear said. Vault 21 would not be allowed to sell alcohol from 8am tomorrow until 8am Saturday. Judge Spear said the authority's finding constituted a "negative holding" against the licensee company, AND Hospitality Group Ltd. If the company received a total of three negative holdings within three years, an application would be made for the cancellation of its on-licence. Vault 21 has been approached for comment.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Ban fair enough: bar owner
A Dunedin bar owner has admitted helping patrons glug "excessive" amounts of Champagne from an ice sculpture. Vault 21 owner Andre Shi said he could not argue with the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority's decision to temporarily suspend the bar's licence, but the skulling caught on video at a sponsored event was unplanned. The suspension of the Octagon bar and restaurant's on-licence was called for by the Dunedin City Council, a decision issued by the authority said. Judge Robert Spear said it was alleged alcohol was promoted irresponsibly which probably encouraged people to consume it "to an excessive extent". In November last year, as part of a sponsored Moet et Chandon event, a large ice sculpture of a "hollow oversized Champagne wine bottle" was set up on the footpath outside Vault 21. Staff allowed alcohol to be poured freely through the vessel and was drunk by people "crouched down below the mouth of the ice sculpture", Judge Spear said. "Three videos extracted from Facebook show that this large ice sculpture was in full view of the passing public which, of course, this being the Octagon is at the very centre of Dunedin city." One 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's liquor licence was suspended for 72 hours, from 8am today until 8am Saturday, and a negative holding recorded against the licensee company, AND Hospitality Group Ltd. If the company received a total of three negative holdings within three years, an application would be made for the cancellation of its on-licence. Mr Shi told the Otago Daily Times yesterday, while the 72-hour suspension was "a little bit heavy", he respected the authority's decision and was "taking it on the chin". The ice sculpture was planned for only the beginning of the event to chill drinks as they were poured into Champagne flutes. But "some punters" had attempted to drink from the sculpture directly, after it was moved outside to be a decoration while patrons had lunch. Mr Shi confirmed he had poured the Champagne down the sculpture and said he wanted to make sure it was controlled. It "wasn't planned", he said. "I helped them to do it. The punter was trying to do it themselves." But the authority deemed the amount he had poured, as captured on video, was "excessive", Mr Shi said. "That's a decision that I can't argue with." Two videos posted by media personality William Waiirua depicting women drinking from the sculpture had since racked up 49.3 million and 53.1 million views on social media. People attending the event included Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich and city councillors. A "third party" had laid a complaint after footage of the event circulated online, Mr Shi said. Judge Spear said the initial explanation was the promotion only involved Champagne being poured down the ice sculpture into a glass, limiting the amount available for consumption. "However, the Facebook video posts were subsequently found that showed that the promotion was far more extreme."
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Vault 21 licence suspended after 'extreme' ice sculpture stunt
A Dunedin nightclub has had its liquor licence temporarily suspended after patrons were filmed drinking champagne excessively from an ice sculpture in the street. One video, which showed a woman at Vault 21 drinking until she could not anymore, was labelled an act "at a high level of irresponsibility" by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority. The suspension of the Octagon bar and restaurant's on-licence was called for by the Dunedin City Council, a decision issued by the authority said. Judge Robert Spear said it was alleged the bar and restaurant promoted alcohol irresponsibly through acts which likely encouraged people to consume alcohol to an excessive extent. Those acts took place in November last year when, as part of a sponsored Moët et Chandon event, a large ice sculpture of a "hollow oversized champagne wine bottle" was set up on the footpath outside Vault 21. Staff allowed alcohol to be poured freely through one end of the vessel and was drunk by people "crouched below the mouth of the ice sculpture", Judge Spear said. "Three videos extracted from Facebook show that this large ice sculpture was in full view of the passing public which, of course, this being the Octagon is at the very centre of Dunedin city." One video retrieved 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." It appeared the people shown in the videos were not young people or students, and in two of the cases involved "people of more mature years", he said. Vault 21 owner Andre Shi had accepted the promotion of alcohol was irresponsible. The initial explanation was the promotion only involved champagne being poured down the ice sculpture into a glass, limiting the amount available for consumption, Judge Spear said. "However, the Facebook video posts were subsequently found that showed that the promotion was far more extreme." Mr Shi had been willing to accept a 48-hour suspension, but the authority considered this would be an insufficient response to the offence. "Particularly because this promotion happened out on the footpath in accordingly in full view of the public. "We could have accepted a 48-hour suspension if this had happened inside the premises and away from the eyes of the passing public, but that was not the case." The authority was aware Vault 21 was a popular venue in the middle of the city, but other outlets needed to understand what standards were acceptable and what were not. A 72-hour suspension was reluctantly accepted by Mr Shi, Judge Spear said. Vault 21 would not be allowed to sell alcohol from 8am tomorrow until 8am Saturday. Judge Spear said the authority's finding constituted a "negative holding" against the licensee company, AND Hospitality Group Ltd. If the company received a total of three negative holdings within three years, an application would be made for the cancellation of its on-licence. Vault 21 has been approached for comment.
