A Wolverhampton off-licence sold cider to a 14-year-old, prompting potential suspension. The council is concerned about public safety and licensing rules.
Last November, the shop was caught in an undercover operation. The young volunteer bought a four-pack of Strongbow cider without any checks. This raised serious alarms for the City of Wolverhampton Council.
They’re worried that the owner, Lavinder Pal Banga, isn’t following the rules meant to protect kids. The council said this kind of sale puts the public at risk.
On the same day, other shops were checked too, but Wood End Wines failed to do proper age checks. The council is pushing for a three-month suspension of the shop’s license.
To address the issue, the off-licence agreed to a week-long suspension for training. This was meant to ease concerns and possibly avoid a hearing.
However, the council isn’t backing down. They still want a hearing to happen. The licensing committee will meet on January 24 to discuss the matter further.
