Shop denied alcohol licence over backroom wine

A shop owner, who was found to have more than 100 litres of wine in his backroom, told police it was for "staff consumption", a licensing committee has heard.

SK First Stop Ltd, which owns La Romica Magazin Romanesc on Avenue Street in Stockport, applied for a licence to sell alcohol but it was refused after Greater Manchester Police raised concerns.

The panel was told in the last year, a child had reported being asked to pick up alcohol from the shop, along with unauthorised antibiotics and illicit cigarettes being found.

Stockport Council licensing officer Ben Spencer also said he had no confidence in the management of the shop and "clear concerns over previous and ongoing activities".

Shop owner Laurentiu Creanga said he fully understood the concerns raised, adding: "My intention has always been to operate a responsible, well-managed business.

"Since becoming aware of the concerns raised, I have taken active steps to ensure that I understand my responsibilities as a premises licence holder."

Creanga told the committee he had not sold alcohol illegally and that he initially did not know about certain policies but had since done everything he was supposed to do, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

PC Jamie Ellison told the meeting that the discovery of 100-plus litres of alcohol surrounded by empty bottles in June 2025 was a "clear indicator of unlawful activity".

The officer said the wine was decanted into bottles and sold and that "on occasion wine was given to children to take back to their parents to be paid for later".

In response to the opposition from police and licensing, Creanga said: "Next time you come in my shop, they don't find anything and then they come in my shop and they don't find alcohol.

He said he did not understand the opposition to his application.

Councillor Dickie Davies said the panel would be rejecting the licensing application based on the evidence presented by the authorities.

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