A SHOP has been banned from selling alcohol after booze was sold to underage youngsters.

Grosik in Woolston, Southampton, faces the ban after cans of beer were sold to 16-year-olds on two occasions earlier this year.

The city council's Trading Standards team and Hampshire police carried out two test purchase operations at the store in The Colonnade, Bridge Road on February 16 and 26.

On both occasions cans of beer were sold to 16-year-olds.

A closure notice, banning owner Anwar Ali from selling alcohol, was served after the operations and when it was discovered he had been selling single cans of high strength lager, which was prohibited under the terms of his licence.

Mr Ali had two weeks to accept or reject the notice and an agreement was subsequently reached between him and the council.

He has agreed to stop selling alcohol for 14 days, starting on April 8.

In a statement from his solicitor, Mr Ali said: "Mr Ali recognises that he has breached a number of terms of his licence.

"He regrets the previous failures and has taken steps to ensure that in the future he will comply with his license conditions.

"The closure notice means that Mr Ali will not be able to sell alcohol for 14 days and this is a significant penalty for him."

Rosie Zambra, the council's regulatory services manager, said: "Southampton City Council's Trading Standards works closely with Hampshire Police and the council’s own licensing team to ensure that all premises in the city selling alcohol comply with the conditions of their licence.

"The supply of alcohol to persons under 18 is a breach of a specific licensing objective, to protect children from harm, and is a matter we take very seriously.

"Further the designated premises supervisor, the person who has day to day responsibility for the running of the premises, had never actually worked in the shop.

"Additionally conditions on the licence relating to prevention sales to persons under 18, such as training of staff, and others aimed at reducing street drinking were not being met."