Restaurant and off-licence breach alcohol rules

Two businesses have had their alcohol licences revoked after they were caught breaking conditions.

Rana and Sons, an off-licence in Plashet Road, Upton Park, and Black Sea Restaurant in Portway Road, Stratford, lost their licences after the council’s licencing sub-committee heard how they had both broken the rules less than six months after previous reviews of the businesses.

An undercover police officer bought two cans of nine per cent alcohol volume lager, which was above the six pc volume the store was allowed to sell, from Rana and Sons in January.

During the same test purchase, the officer bought a 10cl bottle of Jack Daniels, which was smaller than the 35cl bottles in the licence.

Three further test purchases at the shop also resulted in breaches, which followed a separate licence review in November.

In the same month, a visit to the Black Sea Restuarant found non-duty paid alcohol behind the bar.

Staff initially claimed it belonged to customers but more than 120 litres of illegal alcohol was seized after a search of the cellar.

Committee members heard that the restaurant had been subject to a licence review in September, along with several noise complaints.

Cllr Ian Corbett, chairman of the licencing sub-committee, said: “Businesses have a duty to serve alcohol responsibly, but both these businesses were blatantly flouting the rules after only recently being reminded of their responsibilities and given a chance to mend their ways.”