LIQUOR SALE TO MINORS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29221, 3 June 1960, Page 10

LIQUOR SALE TO MINORS

Higher Penalties Urged

Higher penalties should be imposed on young people caught buying liquor in hotels or drinking in hotel bars, according to the Christchurch Licensing Committee, which met yesterday. The chairman (Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M.) said the maximum penalty for the offence was £2. “We feel that is quite inadequate to deter many young people today.” He said there was a necessity for the provision of heavier penalties.

Mr Ferner said the hotel position in Christchurch was one of “substantial improvement.” Hotels were, in general, providing good service for the travelling public.

However, the committee regretted that in spite of warnings given last year there had been a substantial increase in the number of minors found on licensed premises. Mr Ferner said. Quoting from a table of convictions, Mr Ferner said that in 1959 14 minors had been found in bars and eight had been found purchasing liquor. This year 28 had been in bars and 18 had bought liquor. However, in 1959 seven licencees had supplied liefudr to minors; but this year only five had done so, he said.

“There is a greater tendency on the part of minors today to frequent bars in the hope and expectation of being supplied with liquor,” Mr Ferner added.