Pour decisions: Walthamstow grocer fined for selling alcohol to a minor
The company director behind Moonlight Food Store in Walthamstow, Mr Harmeet Singh, pleaded guilty to illegally selling alcohol to a 15-year-old at a Thames Magistrates Court hearing on Tuesday 25 March, the result of an operation by Waltham Forest Council’s Trading Standards Team.
Following a local tip-off from concerned residents, Waltham Forest Trading Standards officers conducted a test purchase session, with assistance from a 15-year-old child, at Moonlight Food Store, 10 St James Street, E17, on Thursday 18 April 2024. The employee staffing the shop failed to ask the child for their age or request appropriate photographic identification before supplying them with a 700ml WKD pre-mixed alcoholic drink.
Mr Singh and his business, Drinks Deliver to Door Ltd, were ordered to pay a combined fine of £1240 plus more than £1700 in costs and victim surcharges. He told the court he had temporarily left an inexperienced employee in charge of the shop due to a personal emergency.
Cllr Khevyn Limbajee, Waltham Forest’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “I’m pleased that the judge in this case agreed with the council concerning the trader’s recklessness.
“The council considers each case on its merits and uses its regulatory powers proportionately; this can include a range of enforcement options from prosecution, as in this case, as well as the review of premises licenses where appropriate.”
Young people who begin drinking before the age of 18 are significantly more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at older ages. Additionally, young people who drink are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviour that can result in illness, mental health problems, injury, and death.
Retailers who sell age-restricted products must implement effective systems that are regularly monitored and updated, to prevent the sale of age-restricted products to the underage.
Residents are asked to report incidents to Trading Standards on 0208 496 3000 or at trading.standards@walthamforest.gov.uk