Alcohol licence revocations on the rise

At least five convenience stores had their alcohol licences revoked during September or have shut up shop after being caught selling illegal goods.

The details, released by JTI, have been gathered from news reports across the month, and according to the company suggest that action by trading standards and the border police force has resulted in an increase in licence revocations. Home Office figures also show that in 2013/14, 4,038 licences were revoked either by a court or licensing authority compared to 3,908 in 2012/13.

Among those prosecuted were the owners of T&J Mini Market in Hull, who surrendered their alcohol licence ahead of a licensing review and following the seizure of illegal alcohol in July.

Also, following raids in July, two shops, Euro Shop and Sam Euro Style, both in Wolverhampton, had their alcohol licences revoked after £150,000-worth of illegal tobacco was seized.

In Liverpool, Alinka had its licence revoked after 3,120 cigarettes were discovered by sniffer dogs behind wooden panelling and secured by an electromagnetic device.

A former Nisa store in Reading was also stripped of its licence. Owner Satpal Vadva was caught selling illegal tobacco and alcohol and also employing illegal immigrants.

Meanwhile, shop owner Mohammed Ali Anwar was handed a community order for selling illegal tobacco at his two Blackpool stores. He has since closed both of
his businesses.