A shop in Southall has been handed a six-week suspension of its alcohol licence following repeated breaches of licensing conditions.

Landis, located opposite Ealing Hospital on Uxbridge Road, has been criticized for failing to comply with regulations, selling alcohol over local strength limits, and stocking illicit vapes.

The suspension aims to give the shop time to address its issues and properly train staff in refusing alcohol sales to minors, after a 15-year-old boy was sold a can of beer without being asked for identification.

---

The shop's refusal log, designed to record instances when alcohol sales are denied, revealed peculiar entries such as refusals for Christmas cards and strawberries, raising concerns about the staff’s understanding of its purpose.

The recent hearing, held by the Ealing Licensing Sub-Committee, followed a routine inspection in August 2024 where several violations were uncovered.

Among them was the sale of a 5.9% strength Desperados beer to a minor, despite Ealing’s strict rule against selling beer with an alcohol content exceeding 5.6%.

A History of Breaches

This marks the third licensing breach at the shop in the past three years. In February 2021, inspectors found alcohol stored in boxes on the shop floor and discovered beer sourced from an unregistered wholesaler without paying duty.

---

In August 2022, 142 non-compliant vapes were discovered behind the counter during another inspection.

During the recent hearing, licensing officers pushed for a full revocation of the shop’s licence, citing a blatant disregard for the law. However, the committee opted for a six-week suspension instead.

Staff Accountability

The Premises Licence Holder, Mr. Singh Grover, informed the committee that the employee responsible for selling alcohol to the minor had been dismissed.

Licensing officer Robert Dear raised concerns about the shop's refusal procedures, noting that entries in the log showed misunderstandings of its purpose. Records of refusals for non-alcoholic items like Christmas cards and strawberries suggested a lack of proper staff training.

---

Moving Forward

The store’s legal representative, Mr. Panchal, argued for a brief suspension, but Councillor Gareth Shaw, Chair of the Licensing Committee, emphasized the need for a stronger response. "A six-week suspension of the licence is proportionate and appropriate to ensure that steps are taken by the business," he stated.

During the suspension, staff will undergo refresher training on licensing laws, the shop will review its stock for compliance, and further measures will be implemented to ensure alcohol is sold responsibly. These include banning the sale of miniature cans of alcohol and ensuring no alcohol is stored on the shop floor.

The suspension serves as a warning to other businesses that licensing rules must be adhered to and underscores the importance of protecting the community from underage alcohol sales.