Popular Hamilton bar Pie Lab, famous for its competitive drink prices and friendly bar staff, has apparently been targeted by police and Health Waikato over the past year.
In July of 2009, police allege that Rey Estuye, who was managing the bar at the time and told Nexus that he is “awesome”, served alcohol to intoxicated patrons then refused to remove those patrons from the bar.
Mr Estuye has been charged with two breeches of the Liquor Act.
Pie Labs owner, Benji Henwood, has also been hit with the same two charges, even though he was not in the bar at the time.
Mr Henwood and Mr Estuye plan to defend the charges.
After being charged, investigations were made by Health Waikato as to the nature of the drinks being served in Pie Lab.
Through dubious scientific methods, red vomit in the bathroom at Pie Lab was deemed to be a result of Bacardi 151 shots, which are served with a non-alcoholic red mixer.
Waikato District Health Board health protection adviser Ross Henderson said it was "literally rocket fuel".
Despite using the word “literally” in entirely the wrong context, Mr Henderson proved he was unable to properly investigate.
A quick count by Nexus staff over the weekend revealed that pie-lab served a dozen different alcoholic drinks which were coloured red.
Every other student bar in the city also offers a variety of red drinks.
Mr Henwood is worried that the policy of deciding a type of alcohol shouldn’t be served across bars will lead to other drinks being blocked from being served.
" If they think Bacardi 151 is too strong, how long before they want to ban the sale of tequila, or other alcohols of a similar alcohol content. They will probably continue to lower the allowable strength of alcohol until shots are completely gone. If they want to ban high percentage spirits they should remove them from wholesalers first”
If you think that Health Waikato and the Police is being unfair, write in to us about it. If You think Rey is awesome, write to us about that too! You may win a $20 voucher!