Shop worker who sold alcohol to 16 year old is fined

Magistrates in St.Helens have fined a shop worker for selling alcohol to a 16-year-old.

Mohamed Yusuf Mohamed Hanifa, aged 53, from Atherton, Manchester, pleaded guilty (Tuesday, September 13)  of selling a large bottle of a vodka drink to a 16 year old male trading standards volunteer. Mr Hanifa was fined £525, ordered to pay £267 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Mr Hanifa  was working as a shop assistant at Freshway, 99 Duke Street in St Helens, on Friday the 25th February 2011 when St Helens Trading Standards, working in partnership with Merseyside Police, sent in the young volunteer to see if he would be served with alcohol.  Mr Hanifa served the youngster without asking for proof of age ID.

Councillor Alison Bacon, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Protection said:  “Trading Standards will continue to work with Merseyside Police in targeting shops and individuals who supply alcohol to under age people. Selling drink to children can lead to anti-social behaviour, health issues in later life, and can also leave young drinkers, particularly females, vulnerable.”

Any retailer in St Helens selling alcohol who would like advice on how to prevent sales of alcohol to children can ring St Helens Trading Standards on 01744 675842.

Chief Inspector Keith McLachlen said: “Merseyside Police takes the sale of alcohol to children very seriously and works hard with Trading Standards to ensure that those found breaking the law are identified and penalised. Clearly underage drinking can lead to numerous problems, both for the young people themselves and for the wider community and I would appeal for anyone who suspects that alcohol is being sold illegally to contact us.”

Anyone wishing to report people supplying alcohol to under 18’s are asked to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.