An Ealing convenience store has had its licence revoked after a selling alcohol to a child and blaming the move on a store next door.
Staff in charge failed to understand the responsibilities required, and when questioned, the staff member at Little Ealing Convenience store said he sold it to the child because similar events had occurred in the store next door.
Trading Standards visited the shop with a 15-year-old volunteer and the child was sold beer without being asked for their age or ID.
When licensing officers notified the staff member, Ruchir Patel, he justified it by saying the shop next door had done the same.
Officers then went on to visit Quickfix Mobile & Vape, and while there was no evidence it sold alcohol to children, inspectors found “several thousand” cigarettes and vapes, despite the shop having no licence.
When councillors asked Mr Patel if he had any understanding of protecting children or prevention of crime and disorder, he had little knowledge. Additionally, when Cllr Baaklini, who chaired the meeting, asked if he’d read the proposed new conditions of the licence, he said no - despite previously saying he had.
Originally, the council licensing team sought a three-month licence suspension for licensing training and for the installation of CCTV. However, after Mr Patel failed to show an understanding of licensing conditions the licence was revoked entirely.
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