Sainsbury's Store Hit With Strict Restrictions On Alcohol Sales

Thu, 29 Jan 2009

Supermarket giant Sainsburys has admitted to selling alcohol to underage drinkers at one of its stores in Kent.

The Headcorn branch has been hit with a number of sanctions after it failed two Trading Standards spot-checks and was also found to have falsified an account in a book used to record those who have been refused alcohol .

A panel of three councillors at Maidstone council heard how a 15-year-old volunteer was sold four cans of lager by a 17-year-old cashier in February 2008, while another 15-year-old volunteer was sold four cans of lager and a box of fireworks at the Sainsbury's store last October.

As a result, the store was handed 13 restrictions at a licensing hearing on January 26.

These included having a personal licence holder on the premises whenever alcohol is on sale, asking customers who look under 25 to provide identification and providing extra training for employees.

Police Chief Inspector Dave Pascoe said: "I hope the sanctions which have been placed on Sainsbury's in Headcorn act as a warning that the sale of alcohol to minors will not be tolerated."

"Residents living nearby have identified anti-social behaviour by a minority of youths to be an issue for the area during meetings."

"The sale of alcohol to minors is not only irresponsible, but also acts as a catalyst to this nuisance behaviour.

He added the police were "working hard" with the supermarket, Trading Standards and the community to bring an end "to this ongoing problem".