A new application has been submitted to reopen an off-licence in Wolverhampton after it was twice shut down due to illegal alcohol sales.
Hizbullah Ahmadzai and Atif Atifi have applied to the City of Wolverhampton Council to reopen HA Supermarket, formerly known as AK Convenience Store, located on Willenhall Road in East Park, Wolverhampton.
Earlier this year, the council’s licensing subcommittee rejected their initial license application. The owners have now submitted another request to sell alcohol daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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During the January 29 hearing, the subcommittee expressed serious concerns about a “lack of transparency” regarding the business sale, which suggested ongoing ties to the previous owners.
Beyond worries about connections to former proprietors, the committee was unconvinced that the new owners possessed the necessary experience and knowledge to responsibly operate the off-licence.
The subcommittee also noted their disappointment that Mr. Ahmadzai and Mr. Atifi struggled to identify key licensing objectives — such as preventing crime, disorder, public nuisance, ensuring public safety, and protecting children from harm — despite having undergone training.
The former incarnation of the store, known as 3 Jyott Off-Licence, lost its license in 2023 when it was found selling high-strength lager to a 15-year-old.
The license revocation followed a complaint by the father of a vulnerable 15-year-old girl with learning difficulties. She had been sold five cans of strong lager while away from her assisted accommodation and later collapsed on the street, being rushed to hospital with suspected cardiac arrest.
Disturbingly, the girl’s father confronted the shop owner, demanding £50 to cover medication costs and a promise not to report the incident; the owner, Gurdip Singh, complied.
Subsequently, the owner’s 16-year-old son was caught selling two cans of gin and tonic to an undercover child without requesting ID during a council sting operation.
Although the license was reinstated under the condition that Mr. Singh was barred from involvement, investigations later revealed he remained connected to the business.
The license was revoked again last year amid suspicions of continued alcohol sales without a valid license. Wolverhampton’s trading standards officers also confiscated a significant quantity of alcohol from the premises.
Minutes from the 2023 hearing emphasized the gravity of the situation: “The licensing subcommittee felt compelled to revoke the licence due to the serious harm caused to a vulnerable fifteen-year-old by the underage sale of alcohol, which was repeated soon afterwards during test purchase operations.
“Mr. Singh deliberately deleted CCTV evidence and attempted to bribe the hospitalised child’s father to prevent a complaint.
“The subcommittee determined that suspension or conditions would be inadequate given the severity of these incidents and Mr. Singh’s admitted criminality.”
As the latest application awaits decision, the council remains cautious about granting another license to the establishment under its new ownership.