Alcohol sale to underage teenager puts Burslem store in dock
POLICE are calling for a store's licence to be reviewed after a sales assistant sold alcohol to an underage teenager in a sting operation.
The 17-year-old undercover volunteer was sent into Dartmouth Food and Wine in Burslem and managed to buy a bottle of Jacob's Creek wine without being asked for ID.
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SCENE: Dartmouth Food and Wine in Burslem.
The test purchase was carried out in the wake of several complaints about youths hanging around outside the off-licence and trying to get other people to buy alcohol for them.
In one case, a member of the public also alleged they had seen staff selling bottles of Lambrini and cans of Stella Artois lager to someone who looked under-age.
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Now Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been asked to consider placing tougher conditions on the premises' licence.
The licensing sub-committee will meet on Monday to consider the case.
Staffordshire Police's concerns are highlighted in a report drawn up for the hearing by Sergeant Dave Wright.
He said the test purchase was carried out on May 18 this year.
It led to the sales assistant being issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice.
Sergeant Wright added: "The person who made the sale stated that he had not received any training from the premises and had only been trained at a previous place of work some three years previously."
It also emerged the Dartmouth Street business had not been an active member of the city's nightlife partnership scheme, despite this being a condition of its licence.
The police want CCTV installed at the store, the business to adopt the Challenge 25 scheme to tackle under-age alcohol sales, and up-to-date records kept of staff training and refusal of sales. Kirisnapillai Thavakumar, who runs Dartmouth Food and Wine, told The Sentinel he would put his case at Monday's meeting.
He added: "We will also be having a chat with the police and are hoping to sort things out."
Comments
by timbstoke
Friday, December 21 2012, 1:11PM
“Exactly how much training is required to know that you're not allowed to sell alcohol to a child?”
by freebee123
Monday, December 17 2012, 4:04AM
“Stop them selling booze at these premises, that way they won't be able to change the name of the owner and start again.”
by Backdoored
Saturday, December 15 2012, 8:40PM
“Why are these ethnic booze sellers so callous where young indigenous Brits are concerned? Do they see them pure as fodder -nice little earners?
For the past months on these pages I see time after time -ethnic named proprietors being caught selling alcohol to young indigenous Brits.”
by Valeplace
Saturday, December 15 2012, 7:24PM
“One law for one & another law for another. "Multiculturalism" will be great for the country said Tony Bliar & of course we all know he was right! Well he must be, because he was the Prime Minister,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Muppet!”
by ravo1972
Saturday, December 15 2012, 6:08PM
“The police are obviously using Wrights Spies.”
by jabbdabado
Saturday, December 15 2012, 5:36PM
“GRANDADS OFF LICENCE IN SHELTON NEEDS CLOSING DOWN! THEY ARE JUST AS BAD.
DON'T NEED A SHOP LIKE THEIRS AROUND ANYMORE WHEN TESCO IS UP THE ROAD!”
by SmellySock
Saturday, December 15 2012, 4:24PM
“my mate bought a bottle of vodka off him it was fake & he went hospital with severe burning of the throat,he refunded half back IF he doesn't call the busy's,,also i have been short changed twice ok mistakes happen,the second time that was it NEVER been in again!! the licensee is foreign so that is a MAJOR boost ( he can bring in the race card) & that chit's up the authority's,IT IS A VERY WEIRD & PERVERSE COUNTRY WHEN YOU HAVE MORE RIGHTS IF YOU ARE A FOREIGNER,the tory pigs will always say not true,,but we THE PEOPLE know its true & thats a revolting fact!!”
by Coco89
Saturday, December 15 2012, 1:50PM
“I live on Dartmouth street & go into this store alot. Im 24 and get asked for ID everytime someone is on who doesnt know me and have seen them ask people for ID who dont look old enough. Also yes they do get alot of gangs around the shop but so does any other corner shop. I have never been asked to purchase alcohol for any of the gangs outside the shop either.”
by Robnoxious
Saturday, December 15 2012, 9:25AM
“They won't close it, I think this is on Mrs Garners territory . She would not want to be seen as racist. Just shut everything else down. THE JOY OF FAITH . NOT LABOUR .”
by warren-lloyd
Saturday, December 15 2012, 9:07AM
“No messing about, close the hole. The police know best, they want the dumps licence ripped up, do it.”