Brick Lane off-licences punished by council’s new Saturation Zone

Two off-licences in Brick Lane have fallen foul of council licencing rules with one losing its ability to sell alcohol for three weeks and another being refused a new licence.

Sweetpoint in Old Montague Street had it’s licence suspended after it was caught selling alcohol and tobacco to children and vulnerable adults.

The off-licence was also stripped of the ability to sell high strength lager due to a string of other breaches of licencing rules, including selling illicit non-duty paid alcohol and tobacco.

Robi’s in Brick Lane was refused a new licence after the police, council and residents objected to the application on the grounds that it would increase crime, disorder and public nuisance.

The decisions were the first uses of the council’s new Saturation Zone policy, introduced in November to reduce anti-social behaviour, and were taken by the its licencing sub-committee on November 26 and 27.

Cllr Ohid Ahmed, deputy mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “Brick Lane has a vibrant night time economy, and the Saturation Zone allows us to balance the benefits of the economy with the needs of local residents.”