Bristol shopkeeper alcohol licence revoked following Trading Standards investigation
A Redfield shopkeeper has had his alcohol licence revoked following an investigation by Bristol City Council’s Trading Standards team.
On Tuesday, 14 May, Mr. Karwan Asad, operator of Church Road Mini Market on Church Road, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court to a Community Order for a period of two years. The sentence includes 200 hours of unpaid community service and costs amounting to £4,376.40 in addition to a victim surcharge.
Subsequent to this conviction, Mr. Asad appeared before the council’s Licensing Committee on Thursday, 6 May. The committee unanimously determined that Mr. Asad had failed to uphold the Licence Objectives and voted to revoke the alcohol licence previously issued for his establishment on Church Road.
Inspections conducted in 2022 by officers from Bristol Trading Standards along with Avon and Somerset Police revealed hidden illegal tobacco valued at over £28,000 behind a false wall after complaints were made regarding the sale and supply of illegal tobacco.
John Smith, Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration for Bristol City Council commented: “Illegal and counterfeit tobacco damages communities and harms legitimate businesses. Our officers work diligently—collaboratively with Avon and Somerset Police—to combat the sale of all illicit goods, particularly tobacco which poses significant health risks.”
“Selling illicit tobacco evades tax and is unfair to honest traders. I hope that this sentencing acts as a warning to others selling such products that we take the issue seriously and will take action against traders who knowingly sell it.”
This sentencing and Alcohol Licence revocation, in May at Bristol Crown Court comes after Mr Asad had pleaded guilty to eight offences at an earlier hearing at Bristol Magistrates Court on Monday 18 March 2024. This hearing followed from Bristol City Council’s Trading Standards team seizing illegal cigarettes and tobacco during three inspections in over the past two years.
To find out more about reporting selling illicit or counterfeit goods, please visit the Bristol City Council website.
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