AN Aveley supermarket could lose its licence to sell alcohol after Thurrock Trading Standards officers seized illicit goods during inspections.

Thurrock Council's licensing sub-committee will meet on Monday (12 January) to review the premises licence for Budgens, 160-168 Romford Road. The licence holder is listed as Charworth Limited.

A report by Thurrock Trading Standards manager Charlotte Edwards states the store breached the Licensing Act 2003 objective of preventing crime and disorder by "allowing the sale of illicit, counterfeit and smuggled goods and having such items on the premises for supply."

Officers discovered 202 packets of illicit tobacco and a bottle of illegal alcohol during two separate inspections last year. The tobacco products failed to comply with UK legislation, while the alcohol – a bottle of Famous Grouse – was confirmed as smuggled goods with a counterfeit label designed to evade tax. The liquid in the bottle was genuine product but was intended for the EU market.

The report highlights concerns over "a lack of management control, systems and procedures" at the store. Charworth Ltd director Anthony Benedict admitted during an October interview that no regular stock audits were carried out and staff were able to order products independently. He also revealed that some non-compliant tobacco stock was inherited from the previous owners and mistakenly sold by new employees.

Trading Standards intelligence reports suggest staff were aware of the illicit nature of some products. In June, a test purchase confirmed the sale of illegal cigarettes at a reduced price.

The council is considering stricter licence conditions, including improved staff training, mandatory record-keeping of refusals, and requirements for all alcohol and tobacco to be sourced from reputable suppliers. Additional measures proposed include maintaining invoices on-site, using UV lights to check duty stamps on spirits, and displaying prominent signage about underage sales.

The review aims to prevent further breaches and ensure compliance with licensing objectives. If the committee is not satisfied with the proposed changes, Budgens could face suspension or revocation of its alcohol licence.