Store has drinks licence suspended

Herefordshire Council’s regulatory sub-committee carried out a second review into the premises licence for Stokes Stores, Hoarwithy Road, Putson, and decided to suspend the licence for a period of 72 hours.

The suspension, agreed at the sub-committee’s meeting on Tuesday, December 13, will come into effect at midday on January 13 and end at midday on January 16.

This gives the store the statutory 21-day period in which to appeal the decision to the magistrates court before the suspension comes into force.

A review was carried out after a joint test purchasing operation between trading standards officers from Herefordshire Council and West Mercia Police found the store sold a bottle of cider to a 16-year-old female without challenging her age.

David Hough, Herefordshire Council’s trading standards officer, told the sub-committee: “At the time of the operation there were notices displayed within the premises that they operated a Challenge 25 policy and the two members of staff present were wearing No ID No Sale badges.”

Jim Mooney, licensing officer for Hereford Police, added: “Sale of alcohol to children is very serious as it impacts on the health and well being of children.”

The sub-committee also added new conditions to the licence:

• All staff to be trained in responsible retail sales within one month and to have retraining every six months
• The store must keep a written record of any refusals to sell alcohol
• The store must operate a Challenge 25 policy whereby staff should ask anyone who looks under 25 to produce ID before selling them alcohol
• Every sale of alcohol to be made by the personal licence holder and be witnessed by another staff member.

A previous review held in November 2008 again resulted from selling alcohol to under age persons and further licence conditions were added as a result of this.