Under age alcohol sales - businessmen fined
Two businessmen and their companies have been fined over £1,000 for selling alcohol to children from shops in Chopwell and Winlaton Mill.
Manasseh Nixon and Anish Gupota were fined as an individuals, as well as the shops they owned being fined, and a total of £800 in court costs must be paid too.
The prosecutions came about after Gateshead Council's trading standards team carried out a test of licensed premises with a 16 year old volunteer visiting shops and attempting to buy alcoholic drinks.
At 'Nixon's Go Local' on Derwent Street in Chopwell, the volunteer was sold some fruit cider. Then at Lifestyle Express on Noel Avenue in Winlaton Mill, Blaydon, they were sold a bottle of alcopop.
Nixon's Go Local in Chopwell is owned by a company called Envasantham Ltd. The Lifestyle Express store in Blaydon is owned by a company called Winlatonmillconvenience Ltd.
Mr Nixon is a director of both companies. Mr Gupta is also listed as a director of Winlatonmillconvenience Ltd.
The businessmen were interviewed by trading standards officers after the failed test purchases and it was clear that neither business had taken reasonable steps, like staff training, to prevent sales of age restricted products from their stores.
The cases were heard at South Tyneside Magistrates Court. Both defendants pleaded guilty to offences under the Licensing Act 2003.
Councillor Gary Haley, cabinet member for children and young people, said:
"We have age restricted products for very good reasons - it's about public safety. I'm grateful to our trading standards team for pursuing these cases and helping to ensure shop owners and staff are made well aware of their responsibilities not to sell alcohol to anybody under age."
Envasantham Ltd / Manasseh Nixon
Nixon pleaded guilty plea both personally and on behalf of the business. He apologised and said he had made adjustments so the under age sales will never happen again. The business was fined £400 and must pay £200 in costs.
Mr Nixon personally was fined £192 with £100 costs.
Winlatonmillconvenience Ltd / Mannaseh Nixon / Anish Gupta
Mr Nixon and Mr Gupta both attended and pleaded guilty and Mr Nixon pleaded guilty for the business.
Mr Nixon apologised, saying he was currently selling the business.
Mr Gupta has now stepped down from the business and is no longer involved.
The business was fined £250 with costs of £200. Mr Nixon was fined £192 with costs of £100. Mr Gupta was fined £128 with costs of £200
Two businessmen and their companies have been fined over £1,000 for selling alcohol to children from shops in Chopwell and Winlaton Mill.
Manasseh Nixon and Anish Gupota were fined as an individuals, as well as the shops they owned being fined, and a total of £800 in court costs must be paid too.
The prosecutions came about after Gateshead Council's trading standards team carried out a test of licensed premises with a 16 year old volunteer visiting shops and attempting to buy alcoholic drinks.
At 'Nixon's Go Local' on Derwent Street in Chopwell, the volunteer was sold some fruit cider. Then at Lifestyle Express on Noel Avenue in Winlaton Mill, Blaydon, they were sold a bottle of alcopop.
Nixon's Go Local in Chopwell is owned by a company called Envasantham Ltd. The Lifestyle Express store in Blaydon is owned by a company called Winlatonmillconvenience Ltd.
Mr Nixon is a director of both companies. Mr Gupta is also listed as a director of Winlatonmillconvenience Ltd.
The businessmen were interviewed by trading standards officers after the failed test purchases and it was clear that neither business had taken reasonable steps, like staff training, to prevent sales of age restricted products from their stores.
The cases were heard at South Tyneside Magistrates Court. Both defendants pleaded guilty to offences under the Licensing Act 2003.
Councillor Gary Haley, cabinet member for children and young people, said:
"We have age restricted products for very good reasons - it's about public safety. I'm grateful to our trading standards team for pursuing these cases and helping to ensure shop owners and staff are made well aware of their responsibilities not to sell alcohol to anybody under age."
Envasantham Ltd / Manasseh Nixon
Nixon pleaded guilty plea both personally and on behalf of the business. He apologised and said he had made adjustments so the under age sales will never happen again. The business was fined £400 and must pay £200 in costs.
Mr Nixon personally was fined £192 with £100 costs.
Winlatonmillconvenience Ltd / Mannaseh Nixon / Anish Gupta
Mr Nixon and Mr Gupta both attended and pleaded guilty and Mr Nixon pleaded guilty for the business.
Mr Nixon apologised, saying he was currently selling the business.
Mr Gupta has now stepped down from the business and is no longer involved.
The business was fined £250 with costs of £200. Mr Nixon was fined £192 with costs of £100. Mr Gupta was fined £128 with costs of £200
