Shop loses licence over underage drink sales

JBS Daily has had its licence revoked by West Northamptonshire Council

A town centre convenience store has had its licence revoked after it was discovered it was selling alcohol to underage girls.

The action was taken against JBS Daily, of Bradshaw Street in Northampton, at a West Northamptonshire Council licensing panel hearing.

Bibin Jacob, from the store, said he was not aware of the illicit items and he had made changes to his stock methods.

The authority said the review was called by Northamptonshire Police and its decision was made to prevent "crime and disorder" and to protect children.

Thousands of items of illegal tobacco and vapes were also discovered inside the shop.

JBS Daily is on Bradshaw Street, next to the town's bus station

The council said in July its trading standards officers found illegal items including 334 vapes, 69 packets of cigarettes and six packets of tobacco hidden in a rucksack under the counter and in a box.

On 22 September, police discovered it was selling alcohol to 17-year-old girls, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Speaking at the hearing, the store's supervisor, Bibin Jacob, said he did not know an employee had brought the illegal tobacco into the premises and he had since been let go.

He said he went through CCTV footage to find out what happened.

"Two of the girls who attended and bought the Magnum [alcohol] had previously showed ID to the staff," he said.

He added that "unfortunately, we have limited resources" when it came to trying to confirm whether ID was genuine or if it had been "physically tampered" with.

He said he had since made sure all purchases for tobacco and vapes were approved by him, has increased counter cameras, put up posters warning that any fraudulent IDs would be seized, and ensured all employees would complete the "Challenge 25" induction policy, where people are asked to prove they are 18 or over if they appear to be under 25.

The panel said, in a written report, that on the balance of probabilities, illegal tobacco products were being sold, alcohol was being sold to underage children, meaning the conditions of the licence were breached and its licence would be revoked.

It acknowledged that increased safety checks had been introduced.

The premises licence holder can appeal against the decision.