A Twickenham newsagents has had its licence revoked following the sale of alcohol to underage teenagers.

Following a licensing sub-committee meeting last Thursday, July 22, the committee sent out its decision to revoke the licence of News and Booze on Hampton Road today.

The licence review came after reports of the shop selling alcohol to under 18s, leading it to become a well-known place for them to buy alcohol, and after the shop's failure of a Alcohol Test Purchase Operation on June 2.

The committee said: "After careful consideration of all written and oral evidence presented to them, the Licensing Sub-Committee decided: to REVOKE the Premises Licence held by Mr Sandip Singh Arora for Hampton News & Booze, 62 Hampton Road, Twickenham, TW2 5QB.

"The Licensing Sub-Committee felt that a six week suspension as offered would not address the issues relating to the Designated Premises Supervisor, that the premises had a history of being an attractive venue for

underage young people to buy alcohol, that there had been two incidents of underage sales by test purchase on 19th July 2020 and 2nd June 2021, and that the premises licence holder had lied to and failed to produce CCTV footage to the Metropolitan Police as was required by the conditions on the Premises Licence.

"The Licensing Sub-Committee felt that the Premises Licence holder had received training for his role and that he could have reasonably been expected to have a robust view on exercising the conditions of the Premises Licence and promoting the Licensing Objectives.

"The Licensing Sub-Committee had been given no confidence that Mr Arora would adhere to the offered and existing conditions."

Residents first raised concerns about News and Booze to local police, leading to the Alcohol Test Purchase Operation when an underage customer attempted to buy age-restricted goods – which the shop failed.

These concerns and the shop's failure to pass the test purchase led Licensing Officer John McGann to apply for a review of the shop's licence.

The licensee was also given a £90 fine following the failed test purchase.

Mr McGann said: "Richmond Police Licensing takes a proactive approach in dealing with shops suspected of selling alcohol to children.

"We conduct test purchase operations on a regular basis and any shop failing will risk their licence being reviewed which could then be revoked.

"Any parents who have concerns about any shop should report their concerns to police via 101 or on the Met Police Website."

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