B&M boss rules out security tag on booze sold in East Lothian store

A call for alcohol sold in a discount chain to be security tagged was rejected after store bosses said it would cost about £10,000.

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East Lothian Licensing Board was asked by its licence standards officer to request B&M stores introduce the tags after it applied for a licence to sell alcohol from its Prestonpans store.

However during a virtual meeting of the board, B&M representative Richard Williams urged members not to impose the condition – citing the five-figure cost that would be incurred by store chiefs if they were forced to introduce the measure.

No tags plea: B&M store in Prestonpans

He said: “B&M do not have tagging in this store. Since it opened we have not had any issue with theft and have not had any need to install security tagging.

“Installing a tagging system will cost B&M £10,000.”

The store said additional conditions including having CCTV set up to monitor the drinks aisle and agreeing to report any thefts to police were acceptable.

Police Scotland did not object to the store being given an alcohol licence.

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The board heard one objection had been raised with the claimant, a personal licence holder, stating there was an overprovision of alcohol outlets in the area.

However B&M contested that view and pointed out that while the chain was a discount retailer it did not sell discounted alcohol.

It added: “Price point for alcohol is generally higher than other major supermarket retailers.”

The board approved the alcohol licence without the need for tagging for The Links shopping centre store.

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