Canterbury Shop Dumps Alcohol Licence After Underage Sales Scare
A Canterbury shop has slammed the brakes on booze sales after fears it was selling to underage kids. AK Enterprise in Longport handed back its licence following a shocking incident involving a teenage girl needing hospital treatment.
Underage Booze Sparks Police Crackdown
kent-police/" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Kent Police called for the licence review after two teenage girls, just 14 and 15, bought alcohol twice in 45 minutes in October 2021. One of the girls fell seriously ill and was rushed to hospital.
Inspectors from Canterbury’s Community Safety Unit and Trading Standards swooped on the shop. They found no CCTV footage of the sales, no refusals book, and no proof of staff training on licensing laws.
Licence Surrendered, Shop Faces Reapplication Hurdles
Before Canterbury City Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee could meet on 6 April 2022, the shop took the easy way out and surrendered its licence. This means no selling booze unless they reapply and prove they’re clamping down on underage sales.
Authorities Issue Warning to Other Shops
“Laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to children are in place for a good reason – to protect young people from harm,” said PC Jim Gall, Licensing Officer for Canterbury Community Safety Unit.
“We will not hesitate to take action against businesses flouting the rules. Hopefully, this case sends a clear message to other shops: don’t sell to under-18s and have robust procedures to comply with the law.”
Cllr Ashley Clark, Chair of Canterbury City Council’s Licensing Committee, added: “We commend the police for their swift action. The licence surrender saved time and hassle. We support responsible businesses but will hit hard those who brazenly break the rules.”
