AN AVELEY licensee has had his licence suspended for a month by Thurrock councillors so he can properly introduce a raft of new conditions.
The council’s licensing sub-committee, meeting on Wednesday (11 December), was considering the case of Pradip Kantilal Sedani the licensee and Designated Premises Supervisor at Aveley Supermarket, trading as Londis, in Romford Road, Aveley.
Members were told that on the afternoon of Friday, 2 August this year, a 15-year-old girl – volunteering with Thurrock Council’s trading standards team – visited six stores, but at Aveley Supermarket she managed to buy a 275ml bottle of Smirnoff Ice.
She was not asked for identification and the woman selling the alcohol – who had worked at the store for four years – was later issued with an £90 fixed penalty notice.
Both trading standards and Essex Police asked the sub-committee to review the licence.
Members agreed that eight further conditions be imposed on the off-licence including appropriate training of staff and that a system is introduced prompting staff to check a customer’s age when selling age-restricted goods.
Cllr Ben Maney, chair of the sub-committee, said afterwards: “Thurrock Council has shown over recent months that it takes the sale of alcohol to under aged people very seriously indeed and it is important that the correct measures are in place to counter it.
“Proper training is imperative as are the use of tills that remind staff to check. It is also important that this is fully in place as soon as possible.
“Alcohol and vulnerable young people should not mix.”
The one month suspension will come into effect once the period allowed for an appeal has passed.
