A wine store in Wokingham could be banned from selling booze after its owner was caught selling alcohol to underage teenagers.
The owner of BB Wines in Broad Street, Wokingham has been plunged into hot water after he was caught selling booze to teenagers on two occasions this year.
Parmit Singh Kapoor, 31, from Southall, London, sold alcohol to the teens in a Thames Valley Police and licensing sting operation.
The teens were actually volunteers working with the police to catch Mr Kapoor out.
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On the first occasion, two 16 year old volunteers went into BB Wines and bought Stella Artois. Mr Kapoor approved the sale without asking for proof of age.
Unbeknownst to him, the sale was observed by police officers Rob Dance and Nathan Hollis, and principle trading standards officer Kevin Thompson.
The police officers then walked into the store and gave Mr Kapoor a fixed penalty. At this point, he told them he was the owner, the premises licence holder and the designated premises supervisor (DPS) of the store.
This took place at 7.15pm on Thursday, April 29.
On the second occasion, Mr Kapoor was caught out by a 16 and 17 year old volunteer duo. One of the duo bought a can of Fosters. Mr Kapoor conducted the sale without checking ID, as he was busy on his phone at the time.
When police filed into his shop, he said: “Ah, you caught me again.”
The visit occurred on 7.08pm on Friday, July 9.
Mr Kapoor failed to recognise the 16-year-old male volunteer, who was involved in the purchase of the Stella Artois in April. This time, the 16-year-old was joined by a 17-year-old girl who had celebrated her birthday that week.
Again, PCs Dance and Hollis issued Mr Kapoor a fixed penalty.
Mr Kapoor was also guilty of selling alcohol to an underage volunteer on December 10, 2018, and was ordered to pay a total of £330 after appearing at Reading Magistrates Court on July 26, 2020. He had to pay a £100 fine, £200 in costs, and a £30 victim surcharge.
BB Wines, which is run by Mr Kapoor, currently has a licence to sell alcohol from 8am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 10.30pm on Sundays.
Licensing authorities have the power to request a review of a premises licence, which can be revoked by a licensing committee.
In this case, the licensing review application has been made by Kevin Thompson, a principle trading standards officer of the Public Protection Partnership (PPP).
Mr Thompson has asked for the licence to be revoked, which could mean Mr Kapoor will no longer be allowed to sell alcohol.
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The review hearing will take place at a virtual meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s licensing and appeal hearings subcommittee at 10am on Monday, September 13.
Mr Kapoor has a right to appeal the committee’s decision, which would be heard at a Magistrates Court.
The PPP is an organisation which deals with public protection matters, including licensing, across Wokingham Borough, Bracknell Forest and West Berkshire.
Wokingham Borough is scheduled to leave the PPP in on March 31, 2022, following a decision by the council’s executive committee to bring public protection and licensing ‘back in house’.
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