UPDATE: Corby Tesco branch to avoid prosecution after accepting temporary booze ban

A branch of Tesco that temporarily lost its licence had served alcohol to two underage shoppers within three months, it has been revealed.
Tesco, Oakley Vale. File pictureTesco, Oakley Vale. File picture
Tesco, Oakley Vale. File picture

The Tesco store in Oakley Vale was told to stop serving alcohol for two weeks as an alternative to a prosecution and a full licence review.

It will now be closely monitored by police and Northamptonshire Trading Standards. It is expected that it will resume serving alcohol next Thursday, April 7.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The joint trading standards and Northamptonshire Police operation to tackle underage drinking in Corby saw staff at the Charter Court store serve alcohol to two underage test purchasers within the past three months.

It is believed that store bosses were told of their failure after the first test purchase, but this did not prevent a second incident.

A closure notice was placed on the store on March 25 and as a result, no alcohol can now be sold.

Store bosses have now met with the police and are retraining their staff.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Oakley Vale Councillor David Sims said the store is vital for people living on the estate. He said: “The Tesco there is very well used and it’s an inconvenience that no alcohol is being served there at the moment.

“But they have a duty to make sure that staff are well aware that they must not serve alcohol to people who are underage and that they are well-trained.

“They’ve been caught out twice in three months and the last thing we want is alcohol being served to youngsters who are not old enough to drink it.”