A convenience store in Walsall has had its premises licence revoked after evidence emerged of alcohol being sold to minors and illicit cigarettes being found on the premises.
On Monday, 10 August, Walsall councillors unanimously agreed to revoke the licence for Blakenall Mini Mart, located on Barracks Lane, following serious breaches of licensing laws.
In July 2025, underage volunteers were able to purchase a bottle of WKD Blue from the store without being asked for any identification, despite a member of the council’s Trading Standards team being present at the shop at the time.
Further investigations revealed that in May 2026, Trading Standards officers seized a total of 960 cigarettes and 3.1 kilograms of tobacco from the premises.
Councillors were also informed that on two separate occasions - June 2024 and July 2026 - Trading Standards officers bought packets of 20 cigarettes for £5 each, which were believed to be counterfeit products.
Mr Salam Hussein Khiziryan has held the premises licence for Blakenall Mini Mart since October 2025. Some offences occurred before his tenure began; however, evidence was presented that Mr Khiziryan had worked as an assistant at another shop on Stafford Road, Walsall.
At this other premises, he was present during two instances when illicit cigarettes were seized: 200 cigarettes in August 2025 and 140 cigarettes concealed in a toilet cistern in February 2026.
During the licence review meeting, representatives from Trading Standards, West Midlands Police, and the Walsall Council public health team all called for the licence to be revoked.
Mr Khiziryan did not attend the meeting nor provide a defence for his case.
Speaking on behalf of Trading Standards, Stuart Powell criticised the repeated discovery of illicit tobacco linked to Mr Khiziryan, stating: “There has been total disregard for the licensing objectives. It’s our contention that the premises licence holder is not fit to hold a licence and it should be revoked.”
Jennifer Mellor from West Midlands Police condemned the illegal sales, adding: “These illegal sales need to stop and this behaviour of a premises licence holder needs to be stamped out. You have to ask why the licence holder chose to sell illicit tobacco - likely for financial gain and to undercut other law-abiding businesses. We also believe these sales were deliberate, not accidental.”
The councillors concluded that, given the seriousness of the offences, revoking the licence was necessary, appropriate, and proportionate.