Action taken for underage alcohol and vape sales
Action has been taken against two Droitwich Spa businesses caught selling alcohol and vapes to people underage.
Saver Express in Ombersley Street West and Lakhy News in Stalls Farm Road had their alcohol licences removed by Wychavon District Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee at hearings on 10 and 11 March, 2025.
The move follows investigations carried out by Worcestershire County Council’s Trading Standards team, who applied for the licences to be removed. They have also issued formal notices against the businesses for selling vapes to people under 18, illegal vapes, and illegal tobacco products.
Test purchases using teenage volunteers were carried out in Droitwich Spa last April and August. During these visits, staff at Lakhy News were caught on separate occasions selling a can of AU Blue Raspberry vodka drink to a 15-year-old and a disposable vape to a 17-year-old. In both cases, staff failed to ask for ID.
Saver Express was also inspected during the operation. Staff sold an underage vape to a 17-year-old without asking for ID, a bottle of VK Blue vodka mix to a 15-year-old without checking for proof of age, and a large vape to an undercover Trading Standards officer, which breached UK regulations. Further quantities of illegal vapes and non-duty paid hand rolling tobacco were also seized. Checks with Worcestershire Regulatory Services also found the new shop owner had not named a new Designated Premises Supervisor as required by the Licensing Act 2003.
In both cases, committee members felt there was enough evidence to prove the business owners had failed to uphold their legal responsibilities under the Licensing Act 2003, including to prevent crime and protect children from harm.
During 2024, Trading Standards officers carried out test purchase operations on 21 businesses in Droitwich Spa and Evesham in response to local information and concerns about underage sales. In seven cases businesses were found to be selling age-restricted products to someone under 18.
Penalties range from formal warnings, fines, licence removal and the forced closure of a business.
Businesses are urged to ensure staff are properly trained, challenge anyone under 25 for ID, keep records of instances of refusal to sell, and display clear ‘no ID, no sale’ signage.
Cllr Karen May, Cabinet Member for Communities at Worcestershire County Council said: “I’d like to thank Wychavon’s members for hearing these two cases and for their support in tackling these issues. Underage alcohol consumption, smoking and the use of vapes can cause damage to young people’s health and our officers will continue to tackle this across the county.”
Cllr Rick Deller, Wychavon’s Executive Board Member for Regulatory Services, said: “Businesses found selling vapes and alcohol to underage customers are not only breaking the law; they're also betraying the trust of parents and endangering the health of our young people. As a parent myself, it infuriates me that some businesses can be so reckless with the next generation.”