Shop found selling alcohol to 15-year-olds

A Middleton shop has been told to stop selling alcohol until it meets extra licence obligations after booze was sold to young people under 18.

The new obligations were imposed on The Corner Shop on Baytree Lane by Rochdale Council following two routine test purchases by its Trading Standards Service. Two 15-year-old volunteers were sold bottles of orange WKD.

At a licensing review meeting held at Rochdale Town Hall on 18 July, the Council's Licensing Committee decided to prevent the shop owner Mohammed Saleem being the Designated Premises Supervisor.

Before alcohol can be sold from the shop again, a new Designated Premises Supervisor must be appointed. The shop must also meet 16 new conditions added to the licence, including asking for proof of age ID, providing more staff training and signing up to the Council’s Responsible Retailer Scheme.

Rochdale Council’s cabinet member for the environment and sustainability, Councillor Wera Hobhouse said: "Selling booze to young people harms their health. Drunken young people are also a danger to themselves and a nuisance for local residents.

“The council will not hesitate to take action against any shop found to be selling booze to under 18s.”

Are you worried about a shop near you selling alcohol to young people under 18? Then tell the Council’s Trading Standards Service. Please pass on any information by phoning Consumer Direct on 08454 9040506 or visiting their website at:

• www.consumerdirect.gov.uk