UPDATE: A convenience shop in South London has lost its liquor license after multiple incidents of selling alcohol to teenagers. Kingston Council revoked the premises license of Kingston International Market located on Tolworth Broadway during a hearing held on December 2, 2023.
The revocation follows a review initiated by the Metropolitan Police after the shop failed three test purchases this year, selling alcohol to a 17-year-old on two separate occasions. The police discovered ongoing violations, including inadequate staff training and failure to maintain crucial documentation, leading to serious concerns about the safety of minors.
During the hearing, shop representative Erdal Tutuman explained that he had struggled to manage the business effectively due to personal circumstances, specifically his wife’s brain aneurysm, which had required her to return to the UK for care. He assured the committee that he was now prepared to enforce proper management and compliance.
However, evidence presented by the police indicated significant breaches. The shop was found to have kept CCTV recordings for only 26 days instead of the required 31 days, lacked an incident log, and displayed no signs mandating age verification for customers. Gabriel Nelson, barrister for the police, stated that the revocation was deemed “the most suitable remedy” due to the shop’s “unacceptable failure to protect children from harm.”
Trading standards officer Amy Algar echoed these concerns, citing the shop’s repeated violations of age-restricted sales regulations. “This business has demonstrated an unacceptable failure to enforce age verification procedures,” she said, noting previous warnings had gone unheeded.
While Mr. Tutuman’s representative argued for a chance to rectify the issues, claiming he had successfully held licenses for over 20 years, the licensing officer PC Lee Hopkins expressed skepticism regarding the shop’s future compliance. “I don’t think things will change,” he said, suggesting that improvements may have come “too late.”
The committee ultimately decided to revoke the license, though Mr. Tutuman can appeal the decision. As this story develops, it highlights ongoing challenges in safeguarding minors from alcohol sales in London.
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