UPDATE: A South London convenience shop has lost its alcohol licence after repeatedly selling booze to teenagers. The Kingston Council revoked the premises licence of Kingston International Market in Tolworth Broadway during a hearing on December 2, 2023.
The decision follows a review initiated by the Metropolitan Police after the shop failed three test purchases this year, selling alcohol to a 17-year-old in April and again in July. The shop was also found to have violated several conditions of its licence, which was granted just months earlier.
During the hearing, licence holder Erdal Tutuman admitted struggling to manage the shop due to his wife’s health crisis, involving a serious brain aneurysm. He claimed that now that she has returned to the UK and he has arranged care for her, he is ready to ensure compliance with licensing rules.
However, police inspections revealed alarming breaches. The shop kept CCTV recordings for only 26 days instead of the required 31 days, lacked an incident log, and failed to display signs reminding customers to provide proof of age when purchasing alcohol.
Barrister Gabriel Nelson, representing the police, stated, “the most suitable remedy” is to revoke the licence, emphasizing that Tutuman had “failed to train his staff on the very basics” and did not collaborate with authorities to resolve these issues.
Amy Algar, a trading standards officer, expressed deep concerns about the shop’s ability to protect minors, highlighting a “failure to enforce age verification procedures” despite previous warnings.
Tutuman’s representative argued that he has held licences for over 20 years without incident and pleaded for a chance to prove the shop can be responsible moving forward. He assured the committee that staff training would be implemented to prevent future violations.
Yet, PC Lee Hopkins, the licensing officer, voiced skepticism, stating, “I don’t think things will change,” referring to the disorganized nature of the shop’s operations.
The committee ultimately decided to revoke the shop’s licence, leaving the door open for Tutuman to appeal the decision. This incident underscores urgent concerns over underage alcohol sales and the necessity for strict adherence to licensing laws.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story, and share your thoughts on the impact of this decision on the community.
