Islington shops pay price for underage alcohol, cigarettes sales
Published: 10 December, 2010
by TERRY MESSENGER
UNDERCOVER teenagers have helped in a crackdown against shopkeepers selling alcohol, cigarettes and knives to underage customers.
The test purchases were carried out to ensnare offending traders in an operation organised by Islington Council and the police.
Barbara Sidnell, the borough’s executive member for community safety, said: “We don’t want knives, alcohol and cigarettes sold to our young people and we’ll prosecute shops that break the law.”
Outlets caught in the crackdown include:
- Costcutter at 35-43 Hornsey Road, Holloway, which sold vodka-based WKD to a 16-year-old.
- Canonbury Food and Wine in St Paul’s Road, which sold Carlsberg Export to a 15-year-old.
- Rima in Exmouth Market, Finsbury, which sold cigarettes to a 16-year-old.
A director of Gravity Ltd, previous owners of Pound Planet in Chapel Market, Angel, recently pleaded guilty to supplying a knife to a 14-year-old.
The company was fined £150 at Highbury Magistrates’ Court on October 14.
Islington Council temporarily suspended licenses to sell alcohol at Costcutter and Canonbury Food and Wine as penalty for the infringements.
The owners of Rima were ordered to pay a fine and costs totalling £300 at Highbury Magistrates’ Court on October 14.
Islington’s Trading Standards Department has urged the public to report underage sales on 020 7527 2000.