A clash is due over a plan by a phone and technology store in Reading town centre to sell alcohol after its owner was previously accused of drinks sales to teens.
A clash is looming over a plan by a phone and technology shop in Reading town centre to start selling alcohol, after the owner was previously accused of selling drinks to teenagers.
SmartTech in Broad Street opened two years ago and has been selling phones, accessories and offering repair services. Last month the business owners applied to sell alcohol from the shop from 7am to 1am each night, which requires a licence from Reading Borough Council.
The bid has been opposed by police and council officers. Thames Valley Police have accused the applicant, Jalinder Singh Ahuja, of selling "counterfeit vodka" and avoiding alcohol duty.
Police told the council: "Prior to this application, police can confirm that no contact has been received from the applicant in relation to this application in order to discuss any concerns which we may have had and to determine any information that could have been supplied relating to our advice on local issues.
"In January 2020, a premises owned and operated by the applicant was inspected by Trading Standards.
"The officers uncovered 111.7 litres of non-duty paid spirits and 23.8 litres of counterfeit vodka. The spirits were immediately seized.
"Mr Ahuja's company was prosecuted after pleading guilty to violations of the Licensing Act, the Trade Marks Act and The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations."
Trading standards echoed the objection, listing five alleged failures to comply with public protection laws between 2016 and 2020. In the most recent incident, officers in London said a teenager developed an "alcohol problem" after buying drinks illegally.
Their representation states: "Trading Standards officers at Hammersmith & Fulham Council received complaints from two nearby schools and the Met Police.
"Two pupils from Year 9 and one from Year 11 allegedly bought spirits from the shop.
"In another report, a group of Year 11 boys were said to be regularly drinking alcohol supplied by the shop. As a result, one boy developed a ‘significant and long-running alcohol problem’ for which he was receiving treatment.
"The shop’s staff were also accused of giving a free bottle of vodka to a boy as a 16th birthday present.
"The reports said that the boys were regularly supplied the illicit alcohol at the back door to avoid detection and had to pay more than the normal price to obtain the spirits."
Those objections and the evidence are contained in publicly available representations against the application.
Because of the objections, the bid to sell alcohol will be decided at a meeting of the council’s licensing applications sub-committee, where Mr Ahuja will have the opportunity to defend himself. Often businesses appoint licensing representatives to make their case.
The meeting is set to take place on Thursday, January 22.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
