27 - Town centre store banned from selling alcohol

A Dudley licensee has had her licence suspended for two months after being found guilty of selling alcohol to youngsters.

Gurbakash Kaur, licensee at Naiks Mini Market, in New Street, was handed the ban by Dudley magistrates on June 20 after being found guilty of the offence. She was also fined £500 and ordered to pay £566 costs.

The offence followed a test purchasing exercise on February 14 2007 when a 15-year-old girl was sold cider by Rakvinder Singh Surma.

The owner of the store, Gurnaik Singh, was also found guilty and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £566 costs.

Rakvinder Singh Surma, had previously pleaded guilty to the offence and had been fined £250 plus £287 costs and £15 victim support by magistrates on May 1 2008.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environment and culture, said:

“I am encouraged by the seriousness with which the courts view underage sales.

“I hope these fines along with the suspension of the licence will send a clear signal to the people that we will not tolerate traders who clearly flout the laws relating to the sale of alcohol to children.”

Note to Editors

Section 169A of the Licensing Act 1964 and Section 146 of the Licensing Act 2003 make it a criminal offence to sell alcohol to a person under the age of 18. The maximum penalty on conviction is £5,000.

Section 129 of the Licensing Act 2003 gives magistrates the power to suspend or revoke a licence.

The hearing took place at Dudley Magistrates Court on 20 June 2008.

The business trades as Naiks mini market at 3 Gladstone Buildings, New Street, Dudley, and the sale took place on the 14^th February 2007.

News Release Contact Information

Name:	Katherine Finney
Telephone:	01384 815232
Email:	katherine.finney@dudley.gov.uk

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