Shropshire store loses alcohol licence for 28 days after shopkeeper sold alcohol to under-18
A Shropshire shop has lost its licence to sell alcohol for 28 days after the shopkeeper was caught selling drink to minors in a sting operation.
Anwar Mahmood, of Albrighton Post Office and Store, pleaded guilty at Telford Magistrates Court to selling alcohol to a person who had not reached the age of 18.
The sale took place in September and the young person was a volunteer working with Shropshire Council's public protection service.
Mahmood, who had previously been charged with the same offence, was also given a £160 fine and ordered to pay £500 costs. Conditions will also be placed on the shop before it can serve alcohol again.
Grant Tunnadine, Shropshire Council's investigations team manager for public protection, said: "It remains a priority for us to ensure that young people are not able to purchase alcohol before they are legally entitled to. The majority of retailers remain vigilant and adhere to their training policies, which results more often than not in our volunteers being refused alcohol.
"It is disappointing when we do get a sale. On this occasion previous advice had clearly been ignored. Under these circumstances we will consider using all the enforcement tools open to the council. This includes reviewing a trader's licence to sell alcohol, as well as instituting legal proceedings."
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council's cabinet member responsible for public protection, said: "Underage drinking has implications for the health of young people, as well as their safety whilst under the influence. Challenge 25 is a very simple policy to adopt and has proved to be a very effective method of preventing underage sales."
He urged retailers: "Any customer who appears to be aged 25 or under should be asked to prove that they are legally old enough to purchase the alcohol.
"It can be difficult to judge a person's age and it was for this reason that Challenge 25 was introduced. I am confident that when staff adopt the policy correctly they will never sell to an underage individual."
