Storrington shop's alcohol licence suspended after selling booze to child
Trading Standards had warned them many times for similar offences
Last updated 30th Nov 2022
Business in West Sussex are being warned not to sell alcohol without asking for identification after a shop in Storrington had its licence suspended.
Pricewatch Ltd, also known as ‘Power’ petrol station, in Old Mill Drive, was handed a 12-week ban after Trading Standards caught them selling alcohol to one of their child volunteers.
Officers had previously given them advice at an earlier visit in April following reports that vapes and other age restricted products were being sold to minors.
Four cans of beer were also sold to a 16-year-old in May.
Peter Aston, West Sussex Trading Standards Team Manager, said: “Despite us having visited the store to raise concerns about underage sales, a member of staff still sold alcohol to our child volunteer.
“All licensed premises are required to have an age verification policy in place and it’s important staff are aware what are acceptable forms of identification and when it should be asked for. We strongly recommend retailers operate a ‘Challenge 25’ policy and support their staff to follow it.”
The shop’s licence will be suspended just before Christmas after Trading Standards teams submitted a request for a review.
Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire & Rescue said: “It’s important we all work together to keep our children and communities safe.
“Trading Standards will continue to respond to allegations of age restricted products being sold to children by shops in West Sussex, so in the run up to Christmas, I strongly encourage all businesses who sell age restricted products to use this time to make sure they have good age verification checks in place.
“West Sussex Trading Standards will continue to undertake test purchasing exercises with child volunteers across the county to uncover businesses selling age restricted products to children.
“Disappointingly, eight further shops were visited recently and of those, four sold alcohol to our child volunteer.”