Hike age to 20: Liquor store owner | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

If a Wanganui liquor store owner had his way the legal drinking age would be 20 for both bars and off-licences.

The Government is pushing towards raising the age limit for off-licence purchases to 20 while still permitting 18-year-olds to buy alcohol in bars.

John Sherwood, owner of Mickeys Super Liquor in Castlecliff, said he was okay with 15-year-olds driving a car and 18-year-olds being able to vote but they shouldn't be able to buy alcohol until they had left their teens.

He said that in his opinion teenagers were simply not mature enough to handle alcohol.

"I say make it 20 for everything," he said. "It won't make much difference to my business."

Far too often he had seen parents buying beer for their 16 and 17-year-olds to take to parties, and it saddened him.

"I have a 17-year-old boy and I would never give him alcohol. If he got alcohol from my store and gave it to another 17-year-old and the parents complained to police I could lose my licence, my livelihood.

"We've had our arguments about it but he's more understanding now."

Mr Sherwood said children as young as 12 had lingered outside his store, trying to get adults to buy them alcohol.

Managers of Liquorland and The Mill did not want to comment yesterday, referring inquiries to head office.

Hospitality Association of New Zealand Wanganui branch president Mike Hos says he will watch with interest to see how the reforms play out.

He says he is especially intrigued by what impact the 18/20 legal age split will have on bars with dual licences.

"Take the Kai Iwi Tavern, for instance. They have an off and on licence. It will be interesting to see how they going to police that," he said.

"You have a drink in the bar if you are 18, but can't buy some alcohol to take home."

He also doubted whether the part where it will be an offence to provide alcohol to an under-18-year-old without a parent's permission was workable.

Kai Iwi Tavern proprietor Wendy Sellars said most of her patrons were aged in their late 20s on and rarely did she have an issue with underaged drinkers.

She had no problem with the push towards the 20-year-old age limit for off-licence purchases.