Dover Shop Banned From Selling Booze After Teen Caught Dead Drunk on Vodka
Licence Revoked After Underage Sale
A Dover shop has had its alcohol licence revoked indefinitely after selling a litre of vodka to a 16-year-old boy who ended up hospitalised with severe intoxication in August 2024. Kent Police flagged serious concerns over the incident, which sparked a swift crackdown.
Licence Holder Absent, Staff Failed to Check Age
Investigations revealed the offending sale happened at Dylan’s Superstore, also known as the High Street Mini Mart. CCTV showed the shop assistant handed over the vodka without asking for ID or challenging the underage buyer. The licence holder wasn’t even present during the sale and rarely visited the store. Further checks found no proper staff training on age verification or licensing compliance.
Authorities Crack Down, Issue Strong Warning
The incident led Dover District Council’s Licensing Committee to revoke the shop’s licence following a review on October 21. PC Danielle Rolfe, the town’s licensing officer, slammed the sale:
“The sale of alcohol to children puts them at risk of harm, as was the case when this boy was allowed to buy such a large volume of spirits unchallenged. We are committed to protecting young people from the dangers of alcohol and protecting the community from the antisocial behaviour which can follow underage drinking.”
She added, “I hope the revocation of this shop’s licence sends out a message to other businesses to run their stores responsibly, with consideration for children and the wider community. If they fail to do so, we will take action.”
Trading Standards Back Police in Tough Action
Oliver Jewell, Principal Trading Standards Officer for Kent County Council, backed the decision:
“We fully supported the recommendations of Kent Police to revoke the licence due to the serious impact in this case. Our officers will always support retailers who are engaged and wish to comply. In this case, however, it was apparent that claims of being an experienced licence holder were contradicted by the actions, both before and after the incident. The plans put forward were both too little and too late.”
This hard-hitting move sends a loud warning to other shops in Kent to stick to licensing laws or face tough consequences.
