Oldham C-store granted alcohol license despite allegations over illegal tobacco

According to local reports, Eurocity Mini Market in Oldhamhas been granted the store the licence which would allow it to sell drinks for consumption at its Yorkshire Street site every day between 9am and 11pm.

Trading Standards became aware of the convenience store around a year-and-a-half ago, when complaints about the alleged sale of illegal tobacco led to a successful test purchase of cigarettes by the authorities.

This was followed by a successful search and the seizure of 12,600 cigarettes, as well as almost half a kilogram of tobacco.

The local reports quoted from Trading Standards’ report to the council’s licensing committee to state how the cigarettes and tobacco were concealed within a wall in the back stock room which was “accessed by turning a screw on a fake light switch”.

“The method of concealment shows the sophistication and expense that went into attempting to have these illegal products on the premise without being detected,” states the report.

Over the course of a year, there were two more successful test purchases of cigarettes from the shop with one conducted recently in June this year during which a chute was uncovered concealed within a wall.

Authorities in West Yorkshire also searched a residential address in the regi on with links to Eurocity and seized 72,180 cigarettes and 8.4 kilograms of tobacco.

The report to the council’s licensing committee suggested the application should be refused regardless.

Public Health also raised concerns about the risk of the sale of alcohol to underage customers, however, these were withdrawn after the convenience store addressed the concerns.

Despite all this, an agreement between the applicant and Trading Standards means Eurcoity will be able to sell alcohol in the future.