The owner of an Ystrad Mynach off licence has been prosecuted for selling alcohol to a 15-year-old girl during a test purchase by Trading Standards.
Rashid Aziz, age 38, owner of the TR Group Premier Stores in Bedwlwyn Street, Ystrad Mynach, was taken to court after the 15-year-old volunteer was served with four cans of Strongbow cider during a test purchase in November 2012 last year.
Aziz appeared at Caerphilly Magistrates Court on May 16 2013. He admitted the offence of selling alcohol to a person under the age of 18, contrary to the Licensing Act 2003.
He was ordered to pay a fine of £800, together with prosecution costs of £425.10 and an £80 victim surcharge.
The employee who served the young person was dealt with immediately following the test purchase, and was issued with a Penalty Notice for Disorder of £80.
During the court case, Caerphilly Magistrates were told that Aziz had no proper systems in place to train staff and avoid the sale of alcohol to children.
Cllr David Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, said: “I am pleased that the court has emphasised the seriousness of this offence in the fine which it has imposed. Mr Aziz must now pay more than £1,300 for something which could so easily have been avoided had he taken his licensing responsibilities seriously.
“I hope this prosecution will send out a clear message to the very small minority who flout the law in this manner that they will not get away with it.”