Norfolk shop loses license after selling alcohol to underage teenagers
During one incident four underage teenagers purchased vodka and other alcohol from the store
A 24-hour shop on a street known for problems with antisocial behaviour will no longer be able to serve alcohol after being caught selling it to underage teenagers.
The Express Store in St Peters Road, Great Yarmouth, has had its license revoked following the two incidents, which occurred within six months of each other.
At a Great Yarmouth Borough Council licensing committee meeting, CCTV images were shown in which four underage teenagers purchased vodka and other alcohol from the store.
Angry parents reportedly visited the shop to complain to the staff after finding their children aged as young as 13 had become unwell after becoming intoxicated.
In footage from September 2024, three teenage girls can be seen taking swigs from a bottle of vodka at the till, with staff not asking for their ID at any point.
Another incident in February 2025 involved 13 and 14-year-old teenage boys.
Police officers subsequently visited the store to investigate but were left unimpressed by the excuses given.
One staff member, who has since left, said he was “busy at the time” and that the underage children were “regulars”.
At the meeting, Michelle Bartrum, Norfolk Constabulary’s licensing officer, said the force had “serious concerns” about the management of the shop.
Following these incidents, the shop owner, Vethanayakampillai Satheeskumar, said he ensured his employees had additional staff training, vowing it will not happen again.
He also said his store did a lot for the community and played an important role in the lives of night-time workers, who visit after finishing their shifts to pick up groceries.
But councillors unanimously voted to revoke the shop’s license due to the incidents.
They said staff acted in a “blasé” manner that is “completely unacceptable” when serving the teenagers alcohol.
Following the decision, a licensing agent representing Mr Satheeskumar said: “It is what it is, but this is a great opportunity for us to go further in terms of being a community store.
“We will continue working with the local community, particularly the hospital workers, taxi drivers and factory staff who rely on us.
“We will continue to serve them and this is an opportunity to make improvements."
A 24-hour shop on a street known for problems with antisocial behaviour will no longer be able to serve alcohol after being caught selling it to underage teenagers.
The Express Store in St Peters Road, Great Yarmouth, has had its license revoked following the two incidents, which occurred within six months of each other.
At a Great Yarmouth Borough Council licensing committee meeting, CCTV images were shown in which four underage teenagers purchased vodka and other alcohol from the store.
Angry parents reportedly visited the shop to complain to the staff after finding their children aged as young as 13 had become unwell after becoming intoxicated.
In footage from September 2024, three teenage girls can be seen taking swigs from a bottle of vodka at the till, with staff not asking for their ID at any point.
Another incident in February 2025 involved 13 and 14-year-old teenage boys.
Police officers subsequently visited the store to investigate but were left unimpressed by the excuses given.
One staff member, who has since left, said he was “busy at the time” and that the underage children were “regulars”.
At the meeting, Michelle Bartrum, Norfolk Constabulary’s licensing officer, said the force had “serious concerns” about the management of the shop.
Following these incidents, the shop owner, Vethanayakampillai Satheeskumar, said he ensured his employees had additional staff training, vowing it will not happen again.
He also said his store did a lot for the community and played an important role in the lives of night-time workers, who visit after finishing their shifts to pick up groceries.
But councillors unanimously voted to revoke the shop’s license due to the incidents.
They said staff acted in a “blasé” manner that is “completely unacceptable” when serving the teenagers alcohol.
Following the decision, a licensing agent representing Mr Satheeskumar said: “It is what it is, but this is a great opportunity for us to go further in terms of being a community store.
“We will continue working with the local community, particularly the hospital workers, taxi drivers and factory staff who rely on us.
“We will continue to serve them and this is an opportunity to make improvements.
Problem Street
The shop was also criticised by Tony Wright, Labour councillor for the area, who spoke on behalf of concerned residents.
Their complaints included problems with noise, antisocial behaviour, littering and drunk people urinating outside the shop.
On one night, people were even playing football in the street at 4.30am, Mr Wright told the committee.
An agent for Mr Satheeskimar said the shop should not be blamed for all of the problems on the street – a point acknowledged by Mr Wright.
However, he said people living nearby complained that a lot of the problems were occurring directly outside the shop, with people congregating outside.
St Peters Road is gaining a reputation for trouble with antisocial behaviour and locals say there have been problems here for a long time.
One resident blamed the number of places people can buy alcohol into the early hours of the morning.
It has five other shops selling alcohol, three of which are open until 3am.
The man who lives nearby also complained in a handwritten letter to the council that a drunk man tried to enter his home before passing out on his doorstep.
Norfolk Police receives frequent complaints about antisocial behaviour, people fighting in the streets and other issues related to people drinking alcohol.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council has recently introduced tougher powers which allows officers to issue fines for drinking in certain public places and for antisocial behaviour, such as urinating in the streets.