A KIDDERMINSTER trader and licensee was fined £200 and ordered to pay £314.51 costs after pleading guilty at Kidderminster Magi-strates Court to selling alcohol to a 15 year old.
In an organised test purchase by Worcestershire County Council trading standards officers, targeting shops that were the subject of complaints, Santhuru Kanthan Selliah sold an under-age volunteer alcohol.
The offence took place at his premises of Godson Food and Wine in Kidder-minster, in August, 2005.
In court, the defendant apologised and took full responsibility for his actions.
He said that, on the day of the visit by Trading Standards, he had been very busy in the shop and had not had time to have a break, and that was the reason he had not asked the age of the boy buying the alcohol.
Laura Fisher, trading standards officer, said: "We are pleased with this result and hope that it will serve as a warning to off licences to take more care when serving young people.
"Alcohol sales to minors are a key contributor to youth related disorder.
"We will continue to put resources into this activity to help prevent sales in order that people can feel safe in the communities where they live," she added.
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