Gateshead store allowed to keep licence despite being caught selling booze to kids

A Gateshead shop has been allowed to keep its alcohol licence despite being caught selling booze to a youngster.

Gateshead Council and Northumbria Police claim that Deckham Bargain Store sold alcopops to a 15 year-old.

The authority says that the young volunteer bought two bottles of blue WKD at the Split Crow Road premises.

The sale was made on May 7, during a test purchase carried out by the council.

But, the authority’s licensing committee decided to allow the store to continue selling alcohol, after councillors at Wednesday’s review heard about the improvements made to its running.

A report, written by neighbourhood inspector Rebecca Gray, said there have been fears about youth disorder in the area for some time, particularly alcohol being sold to under-age youngsters, and that she has received an increasing number of complaints from residents about the issue.

At the meeting she said: “The major concern there is a number of vulnerable young people in that area and potentially under-age sales happening in that area.

“Two of our looked after children travelling to that area to buy alcohol is a concern. I have got concerns about his ability to run that shop.”

In late April Tracey Johnson, assistant manager at the trading standards and licensing team, saw a group of youths leaving the store with cases of Budweiser and Fosters lager and blue carrier bag filled with bottles.

Mr Tamkin was then asked to hand over CCTV footage showing the sale but claimed he couldn’t because he didn’t have the password.

Staff at a local care home were also told by one of the teens that she was buying alcohol from the shop.

Solicitor Sarah Smith, who was representing Mr Tamkin, said: “The review has been based on one incident on  May 7 – a test purchase.

These include undergoing extensive training with a licensing consultant and carrying out the store improvements he recommended.

“Prior to the [council] officers first visit on April 24 there is no evidence of issues at that shop.

“The first engagement he had with officers was a random visit from trading standards who suspected under-age alcohol sales but there was no definite evidence.

“Mr Tamkin accepts that he made a mistake and didn’t get it right and he has learned very expensive lessons.

“The valuable lessons that have come out of it will stick with him for a long time.”

The committee allowed the store to keep its license but it will have to comply with a raft of new conditions including taking on another member of staff and having them trained in licensing requirements.