Lockdown flouters have cost west Aucklanders the ability to buy spirits.
Liquor stores can open there because it's a licensing trust area, but people who live in other parts of the city have been travelling west to buy spirits. Now spirits have been pulled from the shelves.
There was a two-and-a-half-hour wait for booze at WestLiquor in New Lynn on Saturday afternoon because it's one of just nine stores in all of Auckland still selling spirits and RTDs.
It's not just New Lynn, there are massive queues at liquor stores right across west Auckland as people break the rules and head there from other parts of the city to buy spirits and RTDs.
"In the worst store, in terms of people travelling in from outside of west Auckland, it's around 20 percent," said The Trusts chief executive Matt Williams.
That's one in five shoppers traversing the city in lockdown for hard liquor.
Most weren't keen to talk to Newshub on Saturday. Many turned their backs to hide their faces from our camera.
But two admitted they drove here from Mt Roskill for Woodstocks.
"As long as I get it, its all good," one said.
Most liquor stores are shut but the stores out west can open because they have a monopoly on alcohol. The supermarkets there can't sell it.
Outsiders have been intruding since lockdown day one.
"I work in essential services all week so I can't come during the week. I can come Friday night or now and I've got to wait two hours. Yeah, it's frustrating," said one shopper.
One resident waited in line on Friday for nearly three hours and says the elderly weren't being given priority.
"There was over 150 people in line. Total time in line, because I thought 'ooh let's see how long it takes', was two hours and 52 minutes."
So, The Trusts have pulled spirits from the shelves, effective at 5pm, and will only sell wine, beer and cider.
"Our primary responsibility is to support the Government messages around people staying at home and around public health," said Williams.
That leaves the internet the only place to get spirits and RTDs in lockdown, so people stop leaving their homes unnecessarily.
