A Rawtenstall shop loses its licence due to repeated underage alcohol sales and related anti-social behaviour incidents
Rawtenstall: A local shop, Rossendale Food & Booze, has had its licence taken away after selling alcohol to minors. This was linked to some serious trouble in the town, including fights and rowdy behaviour during events.
It turns out that staff sold vodka to kids under 18 multiple times. They even sold a knife once! The police brought this up during a licensing review, and it didn’t look good for the shop.
During the review, it was revealed that a 14-year-old was able to buy alcohol and a knife. The staff didn’t even ask for ID. Plus, there were illegal vapes on display, even after being told to remove them.
There were several incidents reported in 2024. For instance, police noticed young people causing trouble around the market during a ‘Foodie Friday’ event. One girl even ended up sick after drinking too much vodka bought from the shop.
In another test, two girls aged 14 and 16 managed to buy a bottle of WKD. The seller got a penalty notice for that. It’s clear that the shop wasn’t following the rules, and the councillors were not happy about it.
They pointed out that the shop’s management was lacking. The council emphasized the importance of protecting children and preventing crime. They were particularly concerned about the repeated underage sales and the risks to young people.
After all this, the councillors decided to revoke the shop’s licence. They said the safety of children was being ignored, and the shop was not doing enough to prevent underage sales. There’s a chance the shop can appeal this decision, but it’s a serious blow for them.
Stay tuned for more updates on this story and others in the area!
