Tuesday 25th March 2008
(ref:
90/2008)
A Wigan licensee has been fined for selling alcohol to an underage teenager.
Shabana Hayat, licensee of The Outdoor off licence, Scholes Precinct, Wigan pleaded guilty on 20 March at Wigan Magistrates Court to selling alcohol to a 15 year old volunteer working with Wigan Council’s trading standards officers.
Hayat was fined £1000 plus £500 costs. The sales assistant who actually served the alcohol on the night has already received an £80 penalty notice issued by the police for the offence.
The test purchase attempt was part of a national Home Office campaign to tackle underage sales of alcohol by the police and trading standards between May and July 2007.
Julie Middlehurst, Wigan Council Chief Trading Standards Officer, said:
“Shabana Hayat had repeatedly been advised by us on under age sales matters, and in particular of the need to maintain a refusals book.
“As the Premises Licence Holder, Hayat holds a pivotal position in relation to ensuring that her staff are trained, and capable and able to refuse sales of alcohol to under age children.
“This area of Scholes has suffered high levels of youth and alcohol related anti social behaviour, with 25 incidents being reported to the police in 2007 alone.”
Ms Middlehurst said the council will monitor sales from the premise and would offer to work with the licensee to ensure no underage sales are made from the premises in future.
She added:
“Trading standards are committed to supporting those businesses who want to ensure that they do not sell alcohol to under 18s, and yet will come down hard on those who flout the laws.”
