TWO Hayes shops can no longer sell booze after failing to pay more than £2,000 in duty between them.
Hayes News and Booze, in Uxbridge Road, and Botwellears, in Botwell Lane, were found to have hundreds of litres of non-duty paid alcohol, following a joint Hillingdon Council Trading Standards, police and HMRC investigation in April.
Premises licence holder at Hayes News and Booze, Lakhjinder Badyal, was told at last Tuesday's (23) licensing meeting that the store's right to sell alcohol was being revoked.
The committee heard how an inspection unearthed 292.5 litres of non-duty paid wine and 1.8 kg of chewing tobacco, with the revenue due on the goods amounting to £1,281.72.
The find followed Mrs Badyal being officially cautioned in March 2011 for having a number of bottles of counterfeit Glens vodka.
At the hearing, she claimed her husband had bought the alcohol on both occasions without her consent, and arguments about the purchases had lead to the eventual breakdown of their marriage.
She also asserted that the wine was purchased on the request of a customer, after his local supermarket stopped stocking his favourite tipple.
Police raised concerns about anti-social behaviour arising from customers drinking outside the store, and although the committee expressed its sympathy for Mrs Badyal's situation, they felt that the ‘required skills and manner to uphold licensing objectives had not been demonstrated', and decided to rescind the licence.
During the same inspection, officers visited Botwellears and seized 99 litres of wine and 30.5 litres of spirits, non-duty paid to the amount of £934.15.
Store manager Arul Roobathas said that the alcohol had been accepted in his absence, providing he could verify its authenticity before paying.
However, the goods were seized three days later as part of the inspection and, after Mr Roobathas requested invoices, the seller never returned.
The decisions come less than a week after two stores in West Drayton suffered the same fate after similar trading standards breaches.
Councillor Jonathan Bianco, Hillingdon's cabinet member for finance, property and business services, said: "Liquor licence holders need to be aware they are accountable for the authenticity of alcohol in their stores irrespective of the circumstances.
"Residents’ safety is paramount to Hillingdon Council and those whose actions potentially jeopardise this will suffer the consequences."
Hillingdon Police's Licensing Sergeant Ian Meens, added: "We are continuing with our efforts around this type of offence and licensees considering making such purchases should be aware their actions carry serious penalties."
