Leighton off-licence fined for sales of alcohol and nicotine to children

Ahz Ali Iraj Azhir, of Buzz Wine, in North Street, pleaded guilty on Tuesday (March 28) to one offence of persistently selling alcohol and one offence of selling nicotine inhaling products to individuals under the age of 18.

Mr Azhir was fined £380 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £38 for selling alcohol. The shopkeeper was also fined a further £250 for selling the nicotine products.

Further payment came as he was ordered to pay a contribution towards costs of £250 meaning his total liability to the court is therefore £918.

Su Childerhouse, Head of Public Protection & Transport at Central Bedfordshire Council said: “This is a great result for our Trading Standards team but very disappointing that the shopkeeper was committing this type of crime.

“It’s very important that we take a strong stance against people who seek to profit by selling harmful substances to children.

Back in August 2016, the LBO reported how a covert operation to test the alcohol sales policies of pubs and off-licences in Leighton Buzzard caught out Buzz Wines.

Officers from Bedfordshire Police’s licensing team worked with the Trading Standards team at Central Bedfordshire Council, as well as volunteers aged under 18, to enter various venues and shops in Leighton Buzzard to attempt to purchase alcohol .

All of the pubs visited passed the test by refusing the sale of alcohol without the showing of a valid ID.

However, Buzz Wines was one of two off-licences in Leighton Buzzard to fail and received a £90 Fixed Penalty Notice.