Concerns raised over Teesside c-store’s alcohol licence bid

An application for a convenience store to sell booze has faced objections over concerns it will worsen crime in the area and add pressure to emergency services, stated reports on Thursday (20).

As per local reports, Muhammad Tayyeb Butt has submitted an application to enable his new store, Teesside Grocers Ltd to sell alcohol from 7am to 10pm every day. However, concerns have been raised about his application owing to the risk of increasing the town’s alcohol-related issues, in an area where levels of anti-social behaviour are already high.

“As evidenced by the need for Cumulative Impact policies, Middlesbrough already suffers from high levels of alcohol-related crime and disorder and anti-social behaviour,” reports quoted Cleveland Police’s Chief Constable, Police Constable Jason Arbuckle, as saying.

“Cleveland Police are firmly of the belief that another off licensed premise will only exacerbate existing problems, by making alcohol more readily available to persons who have already partaken in alcohol and the vulnerable, this is particularly concerning considering more and more people are consuming alcohol at home.”

The council’s licensing policy states that applications for licences in these areas “will normally be refused or subject to certain limitations, following relevant representations, unless the applicant can demonstrate in the operating schedule that there will be no negative cumulative impact on one or more of the licensing objectives”.

On behalf of the director of public health, a public health officer also raised concerns that another off-licence could put extra pressure on the health service.

“Allowing another alcohol premises to operate between the hours of 7am – 10pm daily makes alcohol more readily available and will not only exacerbate some of the alcohol-related issues already experienced in Middlesbrough but will also add unnecessary pressures to our emergency services including NHS Accident and Emergency departments, ambulance services, and the police,” reports quoted Faith Helyer, a public health officer, as saying.

Both the public health official and Cleveland Police said that the owner was difficult to reach to discuss the application, reports said.