A store in the Falkirk area has been hit with a three-month ban on selling alcohol after being found guilty of selling alcohol to underage teenagers. Hillcrest Store in Bo’ness lost its license after CCTV footage captured the owner selling vodka to a 13-year-old girl and a variety of alcohol beverages to a 17-year-old. The review of the shop’s license was carried out jointly by Police Scotland and Falkirk Council’s licensing department.
The investigation was prompted by an email received by the council’s licensing team alleging that minors were being sold alcohol at the store, which had recently been taken over by Mr. and Mrs. Patel. The CCTV footage showed the owner, Ritesh Patel, selling alcohol to the teenagers without asking for any ID. Despite the offences being reported to the Procurator Fiscal, the case did not proceed to court due to witness reluctance.
During the hearing, Mr. Patel’s agent expressed his deep regret for what was described as a genuine mistake. The agent mentioned that the Patels had invested heavily in the business and believed they were positively impacting the community. Despite citing personal stress and distraction during the incidents, Mr. Patel maintained that he had previously checked the customers’ IDs, which were later revealed to be fraudulent.
The licensing board, led by Councillor Bryan Deakin, found the shop guilty of failing to implement a Challenge 25 policy and neglecting the condition to check IDs for customers who appeared under 25 years old. Consequently, Patel Retail Ltd, holding the premises license, and Mr. Patel’s personal license will both face a three-month suspension from October 28, 2024, to January 28, 2025.
This incident serves as a warning to retailers to be diligent in verifying the age of customers purchasing age-restricted products like alcohol. Upholding strict age verification policies is crucial in preventing underage sales and maintaining the integrity of the licensing regulations. Businesses must prioritize responsible retailing practices to ensure compliance with the law and safeguard young people from the harmful effects of alcohol consumption.