A Costcutter store could lose its licence after one of the workers sold a bottle of wine to a 16-year-old girl.

The minor was sent into the store on Coronation Avenue in East Tilbury, accompanied by a 15-year-old girl, by Thurrock Trading Standards to carry out an underage test purchasing operation.

She entered the store, which was formerly known as East Tilbury Supermarket, on August 14, 2017 at around 4:20pm and picked up a bottle of rosé wine which contained 11 per cent alcohol.

She then went to the counter and was served by Tajinder Singh Khurana, one of the licence holders of the shop, who did not ask her for any ID.

Mr Khurana was subsequently interviewed by Thurrock Trading Standards on September 14, 2017 about this incident and what procedures he had in place to prevent the sale of age restricted goods to minors.

It is alleged in the report that during the interview, Mr Khurana claimed that he was “very tired” when he served the 16-year-old after having worked “extra-long shifts” to cover a colleague’s absence.

It is also claimed in the report that he thought the 16-year-old was between 27 and 28 years old and was potentially the mother of the 15-year-old.

At the time of the purchase, the shop was also not displaying any ‘Challenge 25’ posters or a statutory tobacco notice.

An application has been submitted to Thurrock Council where members of a Licensing Sub-Committee will review the licence on the grounds that the holder did not take the necessary measures to protect children from harm.

If it is, the licence could be revoked.

The other options available are that the licence is suspended for up to three months, the conditions of the licence are modified, or nothing is done with the licence.

Mr Khurana shares the responsibility of holding the licence with Tajinder Gurver and the designated premises supervisor named on the licence is Mustafa Er.

The review will take place at a Licensing Sub-Committee on Tuesday, January 9.

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