A convenience store in the Black Country, which had its alcohol licence revoked after a raid uncovered a large haul of illegal goods, is attempting to secure a new permit to operate.
Illegal Haul Uncovered in February Inspection
The Best-One Goshal General Store on Tower Road in Tividale, Oldbury, was inspected by trading standards officers in February this year following a complaint. The search revealed a significant cache of illicit items, undermining licensing laws designed to prevent crime.
Officers seized 119 bottles of counterfeit spirits, including vodka, whiskey, and Jagermeister. These bottles bore false labels and had not paid UK duty or VAT. Furthermore, they found 76 oversized vaping devices, some intended for the US market with a capacity twelve times the UK legal limit.
Perhaps most alarmingly, the inspection also uncovered 42 sachets of prescription-only oral Viagra jelly, which lacked the necessary UK labelling.
Licence Revoked and New Application Submitted
Sandwell Council's licensing committee moved to revoke the shop's licence in September after a hearing detailed the findings. The licence had been transferred to Lakeethan Vaneswaran in April, after the illegal goods were discovered but before the formal council notice was served.
Now, a new application has been submitted by Sivananthan Thatparanantham on behalf of TSA Retail Ltd. The proposal requests permission to sell alcohol from 8am to 11pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 9am to 10.30pm on Sundays, with overall opening hours starting at 7am.
Sandwell Council's licensing committee is scheduled to meet on 6 January 2026 to decide on this fresh application. The council's original decision to revoke the licence is currently under appeal, with a magistrates' court hearing also set for January.
Strong Objections from Police and Trading Standards
The application faces stern opposition from both West Midlands Police and Sandwell's own trading standards team. In a formal objection, police revealed evidence linking the applicant to previous counterfeit alcohol sales at a shop in Walsall, for which they received a caution.
The police statement expressed deep concern, noting the applicant is a friend of the previously named licence holder and criticising a "lack of transparency" during the earlier review process. They have called for the application to be rejected.
Sandwell Trading Standards was equally forceful, stating the premises had shown "a consistent disregard for the licensing objectives and the law." They argued the shop's activities directly undermined the objective of preventing crime and disorder and also recommended the panel reject the new licence bid.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges local authorities face in regulating retail premises and enforcing licensing laws designed to protect public safety and uphold legal trade standards.
