Police shut down nightclubs over alcohol sales to minors

The Cactus nightclub in Ramat Hasharon allowed three under-aged boys to hire the place at which alcohol was freely sold to minors.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
Police are toughening up on local nightclubs and have temporarily closed down at least five night spots in Herzliya and Ramat Hasharon over the past two months for selling alcohol to minors, letting fights break out, and crowding too many people inside, reports www.local.co.il. The nightclubs have been closed for 30 to 45 days at a time for their breaches of the law. According to the report, one of the most serious incidents occurred recently at the Cactus nightclub in Ramat Hasharon, which allowed three under-aged boys to hire the place for a party at which alcohol was freely sold to youngsters aged 15 to 17. When police arrived they found that many teenagers were intoxicated, and that in addition the nightclub was severely overcrowded. Police tried to close down the nightclub immediately, but "a riot" broke out, with drunken teenagers reportedly attacking officers. Later, police ordered the nightclub's closure for 45 days. No mention was made whether police are prosecuting aberrant nightclub owners further, but a spokesman said police view the sale of alcohol to minors "very seriously" and act "aggressively" against offending businesses.