‘Yellow card’ for Brighton shop after underage alcohol sales

A Brighton convenience store owner was given a “yellow card” after staff failed two under-age alcohol sales tests.

Sussex Police called for action over the Happy Shopper, also known as the Premier Express Bevendean Convenience Store, in Upper Bevendean Avenue, after staff failed test purchases in October 2019 and January this year.

After a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel hearing on Thursday 20 April, premises licence holder Malarmathy Tharmaseelan, 33, agreed to step down as the designated premises supervisor because she was not able to take day-to-day responsibility for alcohol sales at the shop.

Two new staff have been recruited and completed personal licence holder qualifications.

An existing staff member identified only as Viknopan will become the new designated premises supervisor (DPS), having completed his personal licence training.

New refusals and incident books have been introduced, with the DPS signing required to sign them weekly.

The licensing panel of three councillors – Jackie O’Quinn, Anne Pissaridou and Dee Simson – agreed the changes meant that suspending the licence was not necessary due to the changes carried out and extra conditions.

In their decision, they said: “This is not the worst case put before us. It does not cross the threshold for revocation of the licence.

“Given the measures that have already been put in place and the plan for a new DPS who is familiar with the business, we accept that a suspension of the licence is unnecessary.

“We agree that a change of DPS is overdue and that a more active (and) visible DPS will assist in ensuring compliance.”

They said that any future breaches would result in the automatic revocation of the licence.