A convenience store in Birmingham’s Alum Rock area has come under scrutiny after an undercover operation revealed it sold alcohol to an underage customer without checking ID.
On January 2, trading standards officers from Birmingham City Council conducted a test purchase at 7 Star Food and Wine on Glenpark Road, raising concerns about the store’s compliance with licensing laws. Two 16-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, attempted to buy a bottle of WKD Blue. Despite the shop displaying a “No ID, No Sale” sign, the female teen was sold the bottle without any age verification.
The trading standards officer, Paul Ellson, observed the transaction, which took place shortly after 11 a.m. The shopkeeper on duty identified the store’s owner as Amjeet Singh, who holds both the premises licence and is the designated premises supervisor.
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Further investigation showed that the shop did not maintain a refusals register—a record of underage sale refusals—and the staff member who sold the alcohol did not hold a personal licence, as required by law. No other staff present had such a licence either. Trading standards subsequently issued a formal trader’s notice to the shopworker, reminding them that selling alcohol to minors is a criminal offense.
Trading standards also submitted a request to Birmingham City Council’s licensing department to review the store’s premises licence on grounds of “protection of children from harm.” The decision date for this review has yet to be announced. This follows an earlier complaint from June 2023 alleging that the shop sold vapes and cigarettes to children dressed in school uniforms. After that complaint, Trading Standards had visited the store, issued warnings, and provided guidance on preventing sales of age-restricted products.
Martin Williams, Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures for Birmingham Trading Standards, emphasized the importance of proper staff training. “The concern is that the person who sold the alcohol lacked a personal licence and may not have been adequately trained,” he said. “This shop serves a busy, residential neighborhood and holds a trusted position within the community. At minimum, better staff training and adherence to strict procedures are necessary to prevent sales of alcohol and other age-restricted products to minors.”
Birmingham City Council’s licensing committee will consider the matter and decide on the store’s licence status in due course.