Popular Dunedin bar loses liquor licence

  • 27/05/2016
(iStock / file)
(iStock / file)

A Dunedin bar has been slapped with a liquor licence suspension after being caught with nearly twice the number of patrons it's allowed.

The fire service was called to Suburbia after an alarm was activated on Sunday.

Firefighters found around 300 packed into the bar -- twice the number it should hold.

East Dunedin Area Commander Craig Geddes is making no apologies for the tough punishment.

"It's not something we do routinely, but we've identified on this occasion a serious breach and we're taking the appropriate action," he says.

"There's a potential there for serious injury or loss of life.

Colin Weatherall from the District Licensing Committee says the breach was about more than just how many people were inside.

"The breach is not simply just excessive numbers, it's the way the evacuation wasn't managed," he says.

"Particularly the re-entering of patrons to the establishment, before the fire service had cleared the facility."

A public hearing is expected to take place next month, unless the matter can be sorted out before then.

Newshub.