Underage Sales Operation By Merthyr Tydfil Trading Standards Leads To Successful Prosecution

On 31st May 2016 at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court, Coolfoods Ltd trading at Chestnut Way, Gurnos, Merthyr Tydfil pleaded guilty to supplying alcohol to a 16 year old girl and operating outside their alcohol licence conditions by failing to have a personal licence holder on the premise and not operating a refusal register. The company were fined a total of £445 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £425. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The case follows an underage sales operation conducted by the Trading Standards Service at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, where a 16 year old volunteer was served a 2 litre bottle of cider. Following the sale officers entered the shop, where it was also discovered that the business had been operating in contravention of their licensing conditions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Paul Lewis, Trading Standards and Licensing Manager, said: “The health and safety risks posed to children from alcohol are well documented, alongside the anti-social behaviour our communities suffer from underage drinkers”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​