West London Off-Licence Faces Fresh Licence Conditions Over Duty Evasion Concerns
A West London off-licence has had new conditions added to its operating licence following an investigation by Trading Standards into potential duty evasion on high-strength beers. The Wine Shop, located on Richmond Way near Shepherd's Bush in Hammersmith and Fulham, underwent a licence review after authorities raised suspicions about the legality of its alcohol and tobacco sales.
Licensing Committee Decision
Hammersmith and Fulham councillors decided against suspending the premises but agreed to impose fresh conditions on the off-licence's licence during a Licensing Sub-Committee meeting. The decision came after Trading Standards presented evidence suggesting the shop may have avoided paying duty on strong beers and potentially sold illegal tobacco products.
Doug Love, Lead Practitioner at Trading Standards who requested the review, told committee members that since filing his initial request, he had met with the licence holder Jagmon Singh and found him to be a "reasonable person" who agreed to the proposed conditions.
"As far as I'm concerned I don't believe there is any need for this committee to take further action," Mr Love told the committee, adding that he anticipates no future issues following his engagement with Mr Singh.
Investigation Details
The licence review was triggered by Trading Standards visits to the premises last year. In June, an anonymous report claimed the shop was selling hand-rolling tobacco in branded packaging that had allegedly made users ill. While this allegation could not be proven due to lack of evidence, it raised initial concerns about potentially counterfeit and non-duty paid products.
Later the same month, Mr Love visited the Wine Shop with another officer and discovered several concerning items:
- Cigars with German language health warnings
- High-strength beers being sold at "very low prices"
- Products suggesting potential duty evasion
The investigation revealed that tobacco products without correct UK health warnings or on which duty has not been paid are illegal to sell in Britain. Similarly, the unusually low prices of the beers indicated they may have been purchased without paying the required duty.
Evidence of Potential Illegal Sourcing
In his application to the Sub-Committee, Mr Love wrote: "It is the belief of Trading Standards that at least some of the beer regarded as suspect must have been purchased from a source other than an approved Alcohol Wholesalers Registration Scheme member."
He explained that retailers are legally required to purchase alcohol only from AWRS members, and any beer sourced elsewhere at prices low enough to enable the selling prices observed during the June visit "could not possibly have been legal to sell."
Despite initial invoices being provided and claims that the beers were priced cheaply to clear stock, the lack of satisfactory communication ultimately led to the licence review request.
New Conditions and Training Commitments
The conditions imposed on the Wine Shop's licence, which took effect immediately, include:
- Invoices for all alcohol on the premises must be made available to the council, police or HMRC upon request
- Any instance when a caller tries to sell alcohol or tobacco products to the shop must be reported to Trading Standards within 24 hours
During the hearing, Surendra Panchal, representing Mr Singh, assured the committee: "Things are now in place, the four licensing objectives are now fully promoted, and we will make sure nothing happens in the future that will cause any of these reviews."
Mr Love confirmed that Mr Singh and his brother had booked onto two training sessions with Trading Standards, though he noted that while the results of such training are "unknowable," businesses generally show improvement following such interventions.
Immediate Implementation
The amended licence became operational immediately following the committee's decision. When approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the hearing, the Wine Shop declined to provide any further comment on the matter.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by local authorities and Trading Standards to ensure compliance with alcohol and tobacco regulations in London's retail sector, particularly concerning duty payment and product sourcing requirements.
