Shop linked to underage sales asks for new licence

The former Super Mahan shop in Wolverhampton was caught selling a pack of smuggled cigarettes and cider to a 15-year-old

A shop that had its licence revoked for selling cider to a 15-year-old has asked permission for a new one.

The former Super Mahan shop, on Thornley Street in Wolverhampton, was also caught selling a pack of smuggled cigarettes to the teen during a council sting in 2019.

Its owner, Ahmad Sokhanvar Mahani, was jailed for six months in 2022 over licence breaches.

A hearing has been set over the request from the shop - now called Manhattan Supermarket and trading as Drinks2Go - over concerns about links with Mr Mahani.

Mr Mahani is now registered as director of the shop, which was registered as a new business, Manhattan Supermarket, in October last year.

City of Wolverhampton Council said Mr Mahani was present at the Thornley Street shop during a food safety inspection in August – where Mansour Fallahi Taleghani was registered as the sole Drinks2Go trader.

Manhattan Supermarket replaced the former shop after Mr Mahani was jailed for a “long history” of complaints, seizures of illicit tobacco, underage sales and licence breaches over the sale of super-strength alcohol.

In separate searches carried out over several months, police and trading standards officers found nearly 900 illegal cigarettes, 200g of foreign labelled rolling tobacco and Subutex tablets – a Class C controlled drug used to treat opioid addiction.

The council said the involvement of Mr Mahani needed clarifying “at the very least” before a decision could be made on the new licence.

The original application asked for permission to sell alcohol from 08:00 to midnight every day but has been revised to 10:00 to 22:00 following talks with West Midlands Police and the council.

The licensing subcommittee meets on 10 October to discuss the application.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.