A SHOP in Gravesend has had its licence suspended for selling alcopops to a minor.

Valley Wine and Groceries allowed a 15-year-old “mystery shopper” to buy two bottles of tropical Bacardi Breezer without being asked for any identification.

The teenager was part of an undercover operation by Kent Trading Standards.

Trading standards officers had visited the shop twice before the operation to advise the licensee Mustafa Atim and his staff of the law.

They also received two complaints against the shop in Valley Drive for selling alcohol to people under the age of 18.

The 28 day suspension ruling was made by Gravesham Council's licensing panel at a hearing last Thursday (December 18).

Other conditions were also imposed including that Mr Atim is in the shop whenever alcohol is sold (if he is unavailable, the sale should not take place).

A Challenge 21 policy has to be implemented, a refusal register kept and checked weekly listing all alcohol sale refusals, additional staff training on the Challenge 21 policy, the refusal register and acceptable ID.

CCTV must also be made available on demand to police and trading standards and the premises supervisor must achieve a BII Level 2 qualification for Personal Licence holders under the Licensing Act 2003.

Gravesham council leader Councillor Mike Snelling said: "We are determined to crack down on the sale of alcohol to youngsters.

“All the evidence is that alcohol is one of the principal causes of anti-social behaviour and it is important that this action – taken for the first time by this council – is seen as a signal of how seriously we take this and will continue to do so."

Mr Atim has 21 days to appeal to magistrate's court.

If he chooses to do this then he will be able to continue to trade as normal until his case is heard.