HALIFAX RETAILER, IMMY G’S, GUILTY OF SELLING ALCOHOL TO 14-YEAR-OLD CHILD
Tuesday 4 July
On the 29th of June 2023, Mr Imtiyaz Mamaniyat, the Director of Newsline Store Ltd, 7 George Street, Halifax failed to appear at Bradford Magistrates Court to answer a charge of selling a bottle of Glen Vodka 37.5% ABV to a child under the age of 18 from his business, which trades as Immy G’s. In his absence the Magistrates found Mr Mamaniyat guilty of the offence under the Licensing Act 2003 and he was fined £330. He was also ordered to make a contribution of £994 towards the prosecution costs and pay a £34 victim surcharge. Mr Mamaniyat’s company Newsline Store Ltd was also found guilty and was fined £330. The company was ordered to make a payment of £995 cost contribution and pay a £34 victim surcharge. The total of £2,717 to be paid within 28 days.
The business was known to West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service (WYTSS) with the Service having received numerous complaints over several years about the premises selling age restricted products to children.
In June 2022 an underage volunteer entered the shop, under the supervision of a Trading Standards Officer, and asked to buy a bottle of vodka. The child was able to buy a bottle of 20cl Glen Vodka, without being challenged about their age or asked for any form of ID by the seller. It is an offence to sell alcohol to a person under the age of 18. When interviewed Mr Mamaniyat agreed he had received previous letters from WYTSS in 2021 and 2022 explaining his legal obligations and warning that a test purchase of alcohol by an underage volunteer may be attempted. Mr Mamaniyat also acknowledged that he had previously accepted and signed a simple caution from WYTSS for a similar offence which took place in October 2021.
Councillor Ann Kingstone, member of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee which oversees the work of Trading Standards said, “the protection of children from harm is one of the 4 licensing objectives a licensed business must uphold, and the sale of alcohol to children is clearly a serious breach of that objective.”
David Strover, Trading Standards Manager - Business Services said “this test purchase is part of an ongoing operation to tackle shops that sell alcohol to children and flout the law. Retailers are advised to take steps to ensure that their staff are trained and competent at refusing sales to under 18s - trading standards will act to investigate and prosecute those traders who sell age restricted goods illegally.”
Consumers wishing to report illegal trading practices, including the sale of age restricted goods to children can call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 to report their concerns - this can be done anonymously.