Two shops in Brent which had their alcohol licences suspended after they were caught selling illegal booze have had them reinstated but with conditions attached.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Rains Newsagents in Stonebridge (Pic credit: Google streetview)Rains Newsagents in Stonebridge (Pic credit: Google streetview) (Image: Archant)

Alric Food and Wine in Alric Avenue, Harlesden, and Rains Newsagents in Mordaunt Road, Stonebridge, are now banned from selling any high strength beers, lagers and ciders above 6.0 per cent under a list of new rules laid down by Brent Council.

The Harlesden store has also been prohibited from selling single cans of beer to customers.

Both shops, which had Thiyagarajah Thuvarakeswaran wasthe licensee at the time, were handed the temporary ban on sales after suspected counterfeit alcohol, non-duty paid booze and cigarettes were found in both premises.

Last month, the council’s alcohol and entertainment licensing sub-committee removed the suspension but ruled both shops, which have a new licensee, must adhere to a new set of conditions which also includes an alteration to the hours when alcohol can be sold.

Under the new rules both shops an only sell alcohol between 11am to 10pm from Monday to Saturday, and on a Sunday from 11am to 9pm.

Staff must ask for proof of age from any customers who look under the age of 25.

Officers from Brent Police, trading standards and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) discovered the contraband during a routine visit to both stores in October.

Around 2,500 litres of beer, 250 litres of spirits, 189 litres of wine and cigarettes were seized at Alric Food & Wine, and a further 7,697 litres of beer and 75 litres of spirits from Rains Newsagents.

Further investigations revealed some bottles of spirits had fake labels on them in a bid to conceal that duty had not been paid.