Shops caught in underage booze sting

Licensees in Sandwell have stepped up efforts to control the sale of alcohol after six were caught selling to underage customers.

They appeared before Sandwell Council's licensing panel for selling alcohol to volunteers in a trading standards crackdown.

None of the businesses lost its licence but bosses have been told to stick to strict conditions including installing CCTV to overlook sales counters. First before the panel was Kartar Food and Wine Store in McKean Road, Oldbury.

The panel, chaired by Councillor Vic Silvester, heard that the son of the licensee had sold two cans of cider to a 16-year-old who had gone into the store on behalf of Trading Standards.

The seller has already accepted a fixed-penalty notice for the sale.

After having conditions placed on his licence, which included having to operate an under-21 proof of age scheme and installing CCTV, licensee Mr Sowarn Dass, told the panel: "It was just a lapse of concentration on that particular day. It's a family-run business, and it's the first time in 20 years it's happened."

Mrs Veeraluxmy Shanmugaranjan from Luxmy Food Store in Dudley Road East, Oldbury, also appeared before the panel after selling a can of lager to a 15-year-old.

She has been prosecuted and fined £300, ordered to pay £400 costs and pay a £15 victim surcharge. Conditions placed on her licence included ordering her to undertake formal training as well as put all of the alcohol she sells in bags with the name of the company on them. She said: "I didn't see the face of my customer, then I realised I had to sold to an underage person."

Other premises before the panel were Spar in Hobs Road, Wednesbury; Haji Brothers in Market Place, Great Bridge; M and M Supermarket in Oldbury Road, Smethwick, and Liquor Bins in Bearwood Road, Smethwick.

Councillor Silvester said: "Shopkeepers have to accept that the law is there."