TWO convenience stores in Farnham are to have their licences reviewed after falling foul of a test purchase operation for selling alcohol to underage people.

The operation, run by the Waverley Safer Neighbourhood Team and Waverley Borough Council licensing department, tested seven licensed premises across the borough.

Two of the premises, Rajveer Convenience Store at 15 The Street, Wrecclesham and Save Supermarket at 38 Hale Road, Farnham, failed the test by serving alcohol to the 17-year-old test purchaser and a £90 fixed penalty notice was issued in both cases.

The designated Premises Supervisor at one of the sites was the individual who made the sale, the test purchaser was not challenged or asked for any identification during the transaction.

The police and council acted on information received regarding the premises’ selling alcohol to young people.

Both premises that failed will be receiving assistance from the Police Licensing Enforcement Officers that cover the area to try and prevent any further breaches of the licensing act.

Waverley Licensing Officer Rab Carnie said: “We work very closely with the licensing trade but where we receive intelligence or concerns from the community that standards at a premises are not being maintained we will seek to carry out test purchase operations with our colleagues from Waverley Borough Council and Trading Standards.

“It is proven that the misuse of alcohol can cause anti-social in young people and businesses that have a licence to sell alcohol have a responsibility to ensure that the conditions of that licence and the law are upheld.”

Waverley Neighbourhood Sergeant Melanie Sefton said: “All licence holders must realise that it is their responsibility to ensure that everyone working for them follows the letter of the law.

“This operation was part of our ongoing commitment to prevent alcohol being sold to young people under the age of 18 and they will continue.

“I encourage members of the public to report incidents where you they see alcohol being sold top under 18s so we can follow it up.”