Written warning given to grocer for underage sale in Tranent store

Umar Irshad, manager of Day-Today, Bridge Street, Tranent, was told he would not lose his licence following the incident. But he was warned about his behaviour when confronted about the incident and told he must co-operate with the police fully in the future.

The Day-Today store was one of seven in the county that failed a test purchse during an operation across East Lothian in March this year.

The board was told 59 premises were targeted and seven failed, but the Tranent store was the only one brought up for review by Police Scotland.

Police voiced concern about Mr Irshad’s attitude when told he had failed the test purchase and sold alcohol – in this case a bottle of vodka-based drink WKD – to a 16-year-old girl.

In a report to the board, they said: “Police officers found the licence holder (Mr Irshad) and a male member of staff to be uncooperative throughout. They stated that they were unable to return the marked original £10 handed over by the test purchase, that the tills had been cashed up and they were unable to retrieve it from the safe.

“They could not provide a till receipt that correlated to the sale of alcohol. The licence holder, Mr Irshad, when asked about the CCTV, stated that it was not working at the time.” Representing Mr Irshad at the board, Alistair Macdonald said: “Mr Irshad is a young man who has recently been brought into the family business.He accepts his mistake and apologises for the inconveniece to the police, yourselves and everyone involved. He simply panicked, realising not only that he had failed the test but that he would have to tell his parents what had happened. He understands it is not an excuse for what happened.” After adjourning to consider what action to take, board acting convenor Councillor Donald Grant told Mr Irshad that, while some members had wanted his licence suspended, they had agreed to a written warning instead.