A County Durham convenience store could lose its alcohol licence after a can of strong alcohol was sold to a 15-year-old girl during an undercover test purchase.
Lifestyle Express on Main Street, Shildon, is due to appear before Durham County Council after Trading Standards requested a review of its licence. Councillors will decide the shop's future on November 17, with the most severe option being the complete revocation of its alcohol licence.
Underage test purchase details
Trading Standards officers carried out the test purchase at the premises on August 12, after learning that police were investigating a separate claim that alcohol had been sold to someone underage. At around 1.40pm, a can of Sorceress Brew containing 7.5 per cent alcohol was sold to a 15-year-old girl working with Trading Standards, while an officer was present inside the shop.
Documents submitted to the council state that the staff member who made the sale had been employed at the shop for just two days and told officers they believed the girl appeared 18.
Training and management concerns
Trading Standards said officers could not find documented staff training, with a report noting: "There was an A4 book with 'Training' on it, however upon inspection, this was empty." The licence holder told officers there was no documented training but that staff did receive training.
Trading Standards described "clear failings" in the management of the premises regarding alcohol sales and compliance with licence conditions. The review is supported by Durham Constabulary, Public Health and the Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership.
Documentation submitted on behalf of the licence holder includes staff training materials, a refusals log, age-verification records and a Challenge 25 policy. The council will now determine whether the licence should be revoked.
