UPDATE: A South London convenience shop has just lost its license for repeatedly selling alcohol to minors, following a hearing on December 2, 2023. Kingston International Market in Tolworth Broadway failed three test purchases, raising serious concerns about its operations.
Authorities confirm that the Metropolitan Police initiated the review after the shop sold alcohol to a 17-year-old volunteer in April and again in July. Alarmingly, staff even suggested they would sell alcohol to an underage individual if they returned with enough cash. This blatant disregard for age verification laws has led to the revocation of the premises license by Kingston Council.
During the hearing, shop representative Erdal Tutuman expressed his struggles in managing the business due to his wife’s health issues, stating she suffered a brain aneurysm shortly after he took over. “Now that she is back in the UK and receiving care, I can fully focus on the shop,” he said, assuring the committee that new staff training measures would prevent future violations.
However, the evidence presented was damning. Barrister Gabriel Nelson, representing the police, stated that Tutuman had “failed to train his staff on the very basics” and neglected essential license conditions, such as maintaining an incident log and proper CCTV footage retention. The shop only kept recordings for 26 days instead of the mandated 31 days.
Trading standards officer Amy Algar emphasized the grave risks posed by the shop’s actions, highlighting a “failure to protect children from harm.” She noted, “This business has demonstrated an unacceptable failure to enforce age verification procedures, despite formal warnings.”
Despite Tutuman’s claims of having over 20 years of experience without issues at other venues, committee members were not convinced. PC Lee Hopkins, the licensing officer, voiced skepticism about the shop’s ability to change, stating, “I don’t think things will change. Everything is just disorganized.”
The committee ultimately decided to revoke the shop’s premises license, which can be appealed. The implications of this decision resonate beyond just one business, reflecting ongoing efforts to enforce stricter regulations on alcohol sales and protect community welfare.
This developing story indicates a growing commitment from local authorities to safeguard minors from the dangers of underage drinking. Stay tuned for more updates on this urgent situation.
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