High Street Store Loses Alcohol Licence After Selling Illegal Vapes to Minors – Lincoln Council Cracks Down
A popular High Street store in Lincoln has had its alcohol licence revoked after being found guilty of selling illegal vapes to minors. The decision was made by the City of Lincoln Council’s Alcohol Licensing Sub-Committee following a hearing on September 19. Surprisingly, the license holder chose not to attend the meeting.
During the proceedings, the Alcohol Licensing Team from Lincolnshire Police revealed that illegal vapes had been confiscated from Lincoln Food Store on three separate occasions since November 2022. In fact, the most recent search in July uncovered over 2,000 illegal vapes, leading the police to suspect that the store may be involved in other illegal activities.
As a consequence, Lincolnshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service sought a closure order from the court, effectively preventing the store from operating. This action triggered an automatic review of the store’s alcohol licence after Lincoln Magistrates’ Court issued the closure order under Section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act of 2014.
Signs now prominently displayed on the shop indicate that it has been closed by court order due to criminal activity taking place on the premises. The decision to revoke the store’s premises licence was reached unanimously by the Licensing Sub-Committee of the City of Lincoln Council. The council spokesperson stated, Following relevant representation from Lincolnshire Police, and with supporting information from Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards, the city council’s Licensing Sub-Committee unanimously considered it appropriate and proportional to revoke the Premises Licence for Lincoln Food Store, 365 High Street, Lincoln.
In an effort to combat the illegal sale of vapes, a number of businesses across Lincolnshire have faced similar closures. Over the past year, Lincoln, Boston, and Spalding have each seen at least five stores being ordered to shut down as part of this ongoing campaign.
The Principal Trading Standards Officer, Andy Wright, emphasized the collaboration between his team and the Lincolnshire Police Alcohol Licensing Team in tackling illegal cigarettes and vapes. He stated, Wherever we find illegal cigarettes and vapes in Lincolnshire, we investigate them as criminal offenses. We also consider issuing closure orders and have had quite a number in the last 12 months. The number of applications we make is likely to increase considerably in the near future.
The crackdown on stores selling illegal vapes highlights the seriousness with which authorities in Lincolnshire are approaching the issue. By revoking alcohol licences and ordering closures, they aim to protect vulnerable minors from potentially harmful products while sending a clear message to store owners that illegal activities will not be tolerated.
In conclusion, the City of Lincoln Council’s decision to revoke the alcohol licence of Lincoln Food Store exposes the consequences of selling illegal vapes to minors. This crackdown, accompanied by closures and legal actions, demonstrates the commitment of the local authorities to keep the community safe.
