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Liverpool City Council’s Licensing Committee has decided to revoke the premises licence of Arbela Food Mart, located on Lawrence Road, after the store repeatedly failed to stop selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco products. This action was taken following an investigation prompted by reports of illicit sales at the shop.
During an initial inspection, council officers discovered a hidden compartment containing illicit cigarettes and tobacco, as well as a significant quantity of Viagra. It is important to note that Viagra should only be sold after a pharmacist consultation, making its sale in this instance unlawful. Authorities seized more than 3,200 cigarettes, 29 pouches of tobacco, and the medication. The shop owner was formally cautioned about the legal requirements surrounding tobacco sales and instructed to cease selling illegal goods.
Despite these warnings, the shop did not comply. In one instance, a 16-year-old volunteer purchased a vape product without any age verification, highlighting further breaches of the law. The store also faced criticism for encouraging anti-social behaviour, with customers reportedly given plastic cups to consume alcohol bought from the premises outside. A subsequent visit in September uncovered a further 2,140 illicit cigarettes, leading to a court-issued three-month closure order for the shop in November, along with costs of £3,340 awarded to the Council.
The court’s closure order resulted in a full review of the premises licence by the Licensing Committee. After examining all evidence, the committee resolved to revoke the licence entirely. Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, emphasized the importance of regulations designed to protect people from harm. He stated, “The blatant disregard for these rules by the owners of Arbela Food Mart are entirely unacceptable. Despite warnings from Trading Standards, they continued to sell illicit goods, put young people at risk, and cause issues within the wider community.” He added that revoking a licence is a last resort but necessary to maintain public safety and send a clear message to other businesses about adhering to the law.
The council also noted the health risks associated with unregulated vapes, cigarettes, and tobacco products, as these may contain prohibited ingredients. The sale of such products is governed by the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspicions of illicit trading to the council or through Crimestoppers
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