Takapuna Countdown’s appeal to the High Court against a week long alcohol sales ban has been rejected.

As a result, the supermarket will be unable to sell alcohol for a week from February 9 for selling beer to a member of the public who was so intoxicated he could not stand in 2012.

The Alcohol and Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA) viewed the CCTV footage of the incident, noting the man was swaying excessively, fumbling with his One Card and twice unable to hold the cash change placed in his hand. The cashier and manager of the store who sold the beer, claim they did not notice his intoxication.

Countdown GM of operations, Robert Moffat, said the company takes its responsibilities very seriously and is committed to training its staff to do the very best, but there is a limited window in which to observe each customer in a supermarket environment.

A member of the public alerted police after seeing the customer drive his car over a kerb and garden to gain access to the supermarket carpark in August 2012. After returning to the car with the purchased beer, the witness observed the customer again drive over kerbs and garden to exit the carpark.

Constable Simon Colbert said the man was so drunk he required help to get out of his car and could not stand unassisted. He returned a breath reading of 1441 micrograms of alcohol per litre which equates to more that three and a half times the old limit.