Illegal cigs & Viagra sold at corner shop

OWNER 'TREATED STORE LIKE A BAR'

- By DAVID HUMPHREYS

A LIVERPOOL corner shop used “like a bar” sold Viagra without proper consultation and had huge amounts of illegal cigarettes.

Liverpool Council has moved to strip Arbela Food Mart on Lawrence Road in Wavertree of its licence after it was deemed to be involved in “consistent and intentional” failures over the past 12 months.

Councillors were told of a litany of issues, from loud music and public urination to a failed test purchase of a vape to a teenager. Among the contraventions was the hiding of thousands of pounds worth of illegal cigarettes and tobacco in sophisticated concealments throughout the shop.

The business owner Mukhlis Khidir Ahmed Khoshnaw was accused by trading standards officials at a hearing at Liverpool Town Hall of treating the premises “like a bar” and allowing people to drink outside, intimidating passersby.

It will now no longer be able to sell alcohol - subject to appeal - after city officials said they had no option but to take action, with a senior councillor warning the city was “not accepting it.” The committee’s licensing officer confirmed the business had made it known it would not be represented at the hearing or attend in any capacity.