A Rusholme off licence has been stripped of selling alcohol for a month after it was caught giving booze to children.
Manchester City Council used under-aged volunteers to try and purchase alcohol from Boom Off Licence on Wilmslow Road to check that the store was adhering to alcohol age laws.
However the shop failed and had its licence suspended for a month.
Cllr Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council’s executive member for the environment, said: “Selling alcohol to underage children is simply not acceptable in Manchester.
“The fact that the store has been ordered to cease all alcohol sales for a month sends out a very clear message that we take our responsibility to protect the city’s children very seriously and if necessary we can go further than suspension.”
With underage booze drinking increasing each year, the Trading Standard’s Service has a duty to enforce control over alcohol sales.
The store will have a month’s ban from selling alcohol in which the licensing committee could revoke their licence.
A person found guilty of this offence could receive a fine of up to £5,000, which can be imposed at any given point.
Inspector Dave Nutsey of Greater Manchester Police South Manchester Division, said: “GMP works closely with trading standards teams across the region to prevent children from buying alcohol, and we aim to prosecute retailers who breach their licence conditions.
“We also take robust action against adults who buy drinks for young people, as antisocial behaviour and disorder is often alcohol-related.”
If a licenced premise sells alcohol to anyone under 18 on two occasions in a three month period, the City Council can issue a closure notice.
Picture courtesy of the justified sinner via Flickr, with thanks.
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
