An off-licence accused of selling vapes to children in school uniform and displaying ‘bongs’ in its window has been given a second chance by licensing chiefs.
Trading Standards had called on councillors to consider revoking the premises licence of Ormskirk Super Store following a series of test purchases.
The shop has been given a reprieve but is now the subject of new operating conditions.
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Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards department applied for the store’s licence to be questioned after months of troubling reports.
In March 2021 it received a complaint from “a member of the public who was unhappy with the fact the shop had cannabis images and cannabis paraphernalia including bongs and grinders displayed in the window”.
Staff visited the shop, on Aughton Street in the town centre, the following month but continued to receive complaints.
They included allegations the shop was selling alcohol to underage customers.
A report submitted to West Lancashire Borough Council’s licensing committee then said: “A packet of cigarettes was purchased by an underage test purchaser acting under the instructions of Trading Standards.
“The 15-year-old volunteer asked for a packet of Mayfair cigarettes and the male in the shop sold her a packet of cigarettes which were not in plain packaging as required by law, and were suspected to be counterfeit.
“The shop was inspected moments later and 78 illicit tobacco products were discovered behind the counter and seized by Trading Standards under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
“These products, along with the test purchased Mayfair cigarettes, have since been examined and the majority have been confirmed as counterfeit by the tobacco company brand representatives.
“The products also had not had any duty paid on them. They were not in plain packaging and did not possess the correct health warnings on the packs.”
Three complaints that children were being sold vaping products - including ‘Geek Bars’, vaping devices that contain nicotine - then followed, leading to another test purchasing operation.
The report said: “A test purchase of e-cigarettes was attempted on December 22, 2021. The 14-year-old test purchaser was sold two 'Geek Bars' containing nicotine.”
Reporting its findings to WLBC, Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards said its licensing committee “is encouraged to consider revocation of the relevant premises licence for Ormskirk Superstore”.
The case was heard on Monday and the shop kept its licence - meaning it can still sell alcohol.
However, minutes from the meeting show the business must now comply with a number of demands, including that all staff must undertake Challenge 25 refresher training at least every six months and that all employees involved in the “sale of licensable products” shall take part in county council Check 25 online training while it is available.
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