Two Southwark off licences have had their right to sell alcohol suspended after they were caught selling to an underage customer during a pre-Christmas operation.

Both Payless on Jamaica Road SE16 and Costless Express on Lower Road (just across the SE8 border) have had their licences reviewed after being caught out during a crackdown by Southwark Council’s trading standards officers on 8 December last year.

A 16-year-old volunteer for trading standards went into both shops and was sold alcohol and cigarettes without being questioned or asked for proof of age. The council’s test purchasing was part of Operation Condor – the Metropolitan Police’s partnership working initiative where licensing and regulatory issues are targeted on the same day in a London Wide blitz.

As a result the stores have had their licences reviewed by a Southwark licensing sub-committee. Councillors agreed that Costless Express would have its premises alcohol licence suspended for 8 weeks with immediate effect while Payless has had its licence revoked.

Councillor Richard Livingstone, cabinet member for finance, resources and community safety, said: “This needs to serve as a warning to all the licensed premises in Southwark that this council takes its responsibilities seriously and we will come down hard on anyone serving alcohol illegally to our younger residents.  They must make it their habit to check for proof of age when selling to young people.

“As well as being against the law there are serious health consequences to drinking too much alcohol at such an early age and we know that under-age drinking is often linked to anti-social behaviour on our streets and estates.”

Payless has 21 days to appeal to a magistrates’ court and in the meantime can continue to sell alcohol.