The owner of a Bognor convenience store has failed to get back its alcohol licence after it was revoked for the sale of fake cigarettes, dangerous vapes and dodgy vodka.
Baltic Bognor in Richmond Road lost its licence in December 2022, after a series of inspections by trading standards officers.
This month, its appeal against the revocation was dismissed by magistrates.
West Sussex Trading Standards carried out its first inspectino of the convenience store in 2017, and over the next five years found counterfeit cigarettes, vapes which exceeded the legal nicotine limit, and a number of products such as vodka with non-compliant labelling.
By the time the licence was revoked, the business’s sole director Barzan Aubid had already been fined by Worthing Magistrates’ Court for illegal cigarettes found in September 2018.
On 22 December 2023 he also pleaded guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court to similar offences relating to illicit cigarettes sold from his premises in January 2022. Sentencing is due to take place on 15 March 2024 for these later offences.
On 3 January this year, Worthing Magistrates’ Court upheld a decision to revoke the alcohol licence and awarded full costs of approximately £1,660 to Arun District Council as the licensing authority. As a result, Mr Aubid is now prohibited from selling alcohol.
West Sussex Trading Standards worked with West Sussex County Council Public Health, Sussex Police, and Arun District Council on this case as part of an initiative to address safety concerns related to the illegal tobacco market.
Cllr Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “Illegal tobacco is a serious concern to public health, and taking steps to eradicate it from the county forms an important element of Our Council Plan and our priority to keep people safe.
“Counterfeit cigarettes can contain a wide range of hazardous substances and we would discourage anybody from buying any seemingly bargain-priced tobacco.”
Cllr Billy Blanchard Cooper, Arun District Council Licensing Committee Chair, said: “It is reassuring that the court has upheld the decision of Arun’s Licensing Sub-Committee to revoke the licence for this premises, following application for Review.
“The Licensing Act 2003 contains important powers available to Responsible Authorities including the Police, Trading Standards and Environmental Health as well as the public, to request review of premises licences, and is a key protection for the community where problems associated with the licensing objectives occur.”
Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity related to the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes directly to Trading Standards by clicking this link.
