Wrexham shopkeeper sold alcohol without a licence

A Wrexham shopkeeper has pleaded guilty to selling alcohol without a licence.

Wrexham Magistrates heard that the Council’s Licensing Department found Abdulaziz Buyukdeniz to be selling alcohol at his convenience store at King’s Mills Road, Wrexham, formerly the ‘Traveller’s Rest’ pub, shortly after opening the business last June.

Mr Buyukdeniz had converted the former derelict pub into a successful convenience store and said that he thought that the former licence was still in force.

He was given a conditional discharge for twelve months and ordered to pay costs of £607.00.

Councillor Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Strategic Planning and Public Protection, said: “Businesses must ensure that they have the correct legal licences in place.

“The council has a duty to the public to ensure that retailers comply with the required legal standards.”

Roger Mapleson, Trading Standards and Licensing Lead, said: “The licensing system exists to regulate the sale of a product that has potential to cause harm to individuals and communities.

“Unregulated supply of alcohol increases the risk to individuals, including children who may be able to access alcohol when they should not be able to do so and it increases the risk to communities who may be adversely affected by alcohol linked antisocial behaviour.

“It is also important that licence holders are reassured that in complying with their legal obligations they are not undermined by unlicensed operators.”

The court heard that the premises has since been granted the correct licence for the sale of alcohol.