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A crackdown on teenage drinking in Wanganui has exposed how easy it for young people to cheat the law and fool suppliers.
Police and civic leaders say that six out of seven liquor outlets in the city sold alcohol to a group of teens sent out to test the under-18 sales ban.
The age test follows revelations that most city liquor outlets have been caught selling alcohol to some under-18 youths.
Wanganui mayor Chas Poynter says he is shocked by the results.
"I'm absolutely appalled that young people as young as they were could go into liquor outlets here in Wanganui and actually be served with liquor," he says.
Wanganui MP Jill Pettis says it is incredibly difficult to be sure of how old young people are.
Police and city leaders are advocating the strict use of identification for young people buying alcohol.
Those selling alcohol confess that it is difficult to judge the age of young people and the consequences are harsh.
Liquor store manager Hayden Pudney says that after a casual worker sold alcohol to under-18s, the store he manages now faces fines of up to $22,000, plus a seven-day closure of the business.
Wanganui police say the abuse of alcohol by young people is endangering both themselves and the community.
