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Off-licence banned from selling booze

Kathryn Ryan
8/ 4/2008

A WINTON off-licence which sold alcohol to underage boozers has become the first in the city to be permanently banned from selling booze.

Worsley Food and Wine, in Worsley Road, had its licence revoked last week after they were caught selling alcohol to teenagers employed by Salford Trading Standards.

The licence was revoked for failing to comply with conditions imposed on the premises during an initial review hearing in April last year after staff were caught making underage sales.

A second review hearing was held last week after the off-licence was caught selling alcopops to two 15-year-old test purchasers in October.

Other apparent breaches of the conditions were also considered, including the accuracy of the refusals book that the store was ordered to keep.

These included selling alcohol past the prohibited time of 6pm on a Friday and one entry being dated February 29, 2007 - despite it not being a leap year.

The store was also caught about to sell alcohol without licensed and trained staff being on the premises.

Ron Pennington, assistant director of Salford’s Trading Standards, said: “This is evidence that if off-licences fail to heed warnings, the authorities will come down hard. This is not a game.

“There was plenty of opportunity for the store to amend its working practices but it has demonstrated a blatant disregard for the conditions originally imposed.

“Off-licences who sell to teenagers are often contributing to the problem of anti-social behaviour. Reducing the availability of alcohol to them is a big step in helping create safer communities.”

Superintendent Ian Palmer, of Salford Division, said: “Underage drinking is one of the main issues concerning residents in our community.

“Not only does it fuel anti-social behaviour, but it can also have a detrimental effect on young people’s health.

“This case should serve as a warning to traders who sell alcohol to act responsibly, and we will continue to work with partners to prosecute anyone who sells it to people under 18.”

Premises licence holder Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary, from Nelson, failed to attend the review hearing.

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