Edinburgh shopkeeper given a slap on the wrist for selling vodka, cigarettes and vapes to a 16 year-old girl

Councillors accepted that the Lochend shop incident was a one-off

An Edinburgh shopkeeper who sold vodka, cigarettes and vapes to a 16 year-old girl has been given a slap on the wrist by the council.

Mohammed Imran was hauled before the licensing board after the girl’s grandparents discovered the booze and called the police, which led to a charge and a £280 fine.

Councillors said it was a “very serious breach” however did not revoke the alcohol licence for his Best One store on Lochend Road South, as they accepted it was a “single incident” and lessons had been learned – letting him off with a written warning instead. They were also told how licensing standards officers were left shaken after drunk customers aggressively threatened and swore at them as they visited the premises earlier in the year.

The Best One store on Lochend Road South.

Sgt Barry Mercer from Police Scotland said other problems identified with the shop included staff training records being “overwritten and scored out”, a lack of no smoking signs, and an “excessive” alcohol display.

He said in May a 16 year-old girl entered the premises while Mr Imran was working at the till and “asked for a quarter bottle of vodka, a packet of cigarettes and some vapes”.

He added: “She was supplied these items by Mr Imran. On viewing the CCTV from within the store, we can see when the cigarettes were scanned a large stop sign comes up on the display of the till which was visible on the CCTV.

“Mr Imran touched the screen and the message disappeared. The 16 year-old girl is given the vodka, cigarettes and vapes and pays for items using a contactless mobile phone.

“The following morning her grandparent noticed the bottle of vodka, asked her where she got it and reported the circumstances to the police. The culmination of this enquiry was Mr Imran was cautioned and charged with supplying alcohol to an under 18.”

It was claimed to officers by the girl that Mr Imran had a ‘reputation’ for selling alcohol to underagers – something vehemently denied at the meeting by Mr Imran through his lawyer, Alistair MacDonald.

Mr MacDonald suggested a customer who had been refused store credit was “out to get him” and this had sparked the issues. “Everything seemed to happen after that,” he said. “Now that doesn’t take away from the fact there was an underage sale here and I’m not trying to deny that.

“The girl was under 18, that is accepted, and that is why he pled guilty. He suspects that she was in before and also thinks that she showed ID before, but we have no proof of that. There was a mistake made, but a mistake by the person. There is no background problems with these premises.”

Furthermore, regulatory team leader, Veronica McMillan said licensing standards officers (LSOs) had been confronted by a “drunk customer” when they visited the convenience store for an inspection in February, previous to the illegal sale. A report to the Board said the council staff were threatened and swore at several times.

Ms McMillan said it was a “frightening experience for both LSOs” and the incident “demonstrates bad management”. The customer was was “very aggressive” and had attempted to steal alcohol from the shop before the officers “were kind enough to step in and stop it,” Mr MacDonald said.

“It was a horrendous event. It was scary for the LSOs and indeed it was scary for the member of staff as well.”

He added: “He’s got a criminal record, so he’s been punished already if you want to look at it that way. He accepts he made a mistake…but I would say that the shop has no track record of problems.”

Councillor Chas Booth said: “This is clearly a serious incident. We have laws and rules in place to protect young people from damage from alcohol and there was clearly a breach here, a very serious breach.

“So I don’t think it’s appropriate to take no action whatsoever. On the other hand, I do take on board what Mr MacDonald said in terms of this was a single incident, lessons have been learned and Mr Imran is now checking for ID on every occasion.

“The message needs to be sent loud and clear that this issue was completely unacceptable and if ever anything like this happens again, the board will take it extremely seriously.”

After issuing a written warning on the licence premises, councillors considered whether Mr Imran’s personal alcohol licence should be revoked.

Councillor Cathy Fullerton said: “I’m not convinced it could have been a one-off, but I’m saying that without any evidence at all.”

Members agreed to endorse his licence, allowing him to keep it, but noted the offence on his record. A further two endorsements in the next five-year period would result in it being automatically revoked.