Swalwell store succeeds in booze bid despite ‘dial-a drink’ fears

A Swalwell store’s bid to sell alcohol has been given the go-ahead despite the councils ‘dial-a-drink’ fears.

At Friday’s licensing sub-comittee Asghar Pari Zafarabdi was granted a licence to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between 7am to midnight seven days a week, from the former Three Tunns pub – now called Delfan Store.

Previously Alice Wiseman, Gateshead’s director of public health, raised that this could result in residents getting cheap alcohol delivered straight to their homes.

In her representation to the authority she said she had “great concerns” about the management of this off licence and Zafarabadi’s understanding licensing law.

Wiseman wrote that during an authority visit to the premises Zafarabadi stated that he was considering offering home alcohol deliveries despite this not being stated in the application.

The authority’s licensing team also had misgivings about the plans, with assistant trading standards manager Tracy Johnson saying in her representation that when she visited the store Zafarabadi  couldn’t explain licensing rules.

However, councillors sitting on Friday’s committee heard from Zafarabadi who said he now had “100%” understanding of licensing rules.

He said: “I’m ready now. When people come into my shop I ask for ID, not just for alcohol but for energy drinks, [lighter] gas, lottery and cigarettes.

“My shop has been open for nearly four months and I don’t have a problem.”

He also said that he had no plans to set up an alcohol delivery service at this point.

The committee voted to grant the application.

Cllr Kevin Dodds, committee chairman, said: “It’s important that you remember the reasons for the licensing objectives.

“It’s not just arbitrary, it’s there because being granted a licence to sell age restricted products in the borough is a very important part of the council’s operations, so we don’t have crime and disorder, children being subjected to harm, and don’t have public safety issues.”