Seven shops across Kent have their licences revoked for selling alcohol to minors

Seven shops across Kent have had their licences revoked over the past year for selling alcohol to minors.

Kent Police said drinks including beer and vodka were sold to minors and some of them ended up ill in hospital.

Two of the shops were in Deal, two were in Dover, and there were three others in Canterbury, Herne Bay and New Romney.

Warning letters were also sent to numerous other businesses across the county including 11 in Maidstone.

Licensing Sergeant Pete Ballard said:

“Having a licence to sell alcohol is a big responsibility, and one the vast majority of shopkeepers take very seriously.

“Unfortunately, we do sometimes receive reports of children becoming very ill because a shop worker hasn’t thought to check their age before selling alcohol to them.

“There have also been shocking and deliberate breaches of licensing laws including one shopkeeper who led an underage customer outside the premises to complete a sale, and another who hid vodka in a pre-arranged location for a child to collect later.

“We take swift and decisive enforcement action when such incidents are reported, which in the most serious cases can result in a business losing its alcohol licence and being unable to continue trading.

“The licensing team does not tolerate those who prioritise profit over the safety of their customers and the wider community and we remain committed to working closely with our partners to ensure all licensing objectives are upheld.”