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Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

Sale and supply of alcohol generally - Offences and closure of premises - Powers of entry on licensed premises

267: Powers of entry on licensed premises

You could also call this:

“Police can enter and inspect places that sell alcohol to check they are following the rules”

If you are a constable or an inspector, you can enter and inspect licensed premises at any reasonable time to check if the owner is following the rules of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. You can do this to see if the owner is complying with the Act and the conditions of their licence. You can enter the premises to check for any offences against the Act if you have reasonable grounds to believe something is wrong.

If you are a constable or an inspector, you have the power to ask for certain documents or information when you enter licensed premises. You can ask to see the licence, books, or other documents that the owner is required to keep, and you can make copies of them. You can also ask the owner or manager to provide information or assistance that you need to do your job.

If someone refuses to let you into licensed premises when you ask to enter, or if they delay letting you in without a good reason, they can be fined up to $2,000. If the owner or manager of the premises refuses to show you the licence or documents, or if they refuse to provide information or assistance when you ask for it, they can also be fined up to $2,000. You can find more information about this by looking at s 175.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3339783.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Police and safety Money and consumer rights > Consumer protection
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"Police can close places that sell alcohol if it's not safe or if people are being a nuisance"

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"Police can take alcohol samples from licensed places if they think the law is being broken"

Part 2 Sale and supply of alcohol generally
Offences and closure of premises: Powers of entry on licensed premises

267Powers of entry on licensed premises

  1. A constable or an inspector may at any reasonable time enter and inspect any licensed premises, or any part of any licensed premises, to ascertain whether the licensee is complying with the provisions of this Act and the conditions of the licence.

  2. A constable or an inspector may at any time enter and inspect any licensed premises when he or she has reasonable grounds to believe that any offence against this Act is being committed on those licensed premises.

  3. For the purposes of exercising the power conferred by this section, a constable or an inspector may—

  4. require the production of any licence, or any book, notice, record, list, or other document that is required by this Act to be kept, and examine and make copies of it; and
    1. require the licensee or manager to provide any information or assistance reasonably required by a constable or an inspector relating to any matter within the duties of the licensee or manager.

      1. A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than $2,000 who, without reasonable excuse,—

      2. refuses or fails to admit to any licensed premises any constable or inspector who demands entry under this section; or
        1. delays unreasonably in admitting to any licensed premises any constable or inspector who demands entry under this section.

          1. A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than $2,000 who, being the licensee or a manager of any licensed premises, without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails—

          2. to produce the licence or any document when required to do so under subsection (3)(a); or
            1. to provide any assistance or information when required to do so under subsection (3)(b).

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