At a glance
• Three Tower Hamlets retailers were fined over £13,000 for selling alcohol and corrosive chemicals to underage customers
• Whitechapel Poundshop Ltd and its director sold caustic soda to a 16-year-old, Dolphins sold a corrosive drain cleaner to a child, and a Co-op employee sold beer to a 12-year-old
• Tower Hamlets Council condemned the sales as illegal and dangerous
Three retailers in Tower Hamlets have been fined a total of more than £13,000 for selling alcohol and hazardous chemicals to children.
Whitechapel Essential Warehouse in Whitechapel, Dolphins in Watney Market, Shadwell, and the Co-op in Mile End were penalised following an investigation by Tower Hamlets Borough Council.
Councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Integrated Enforcement, said the retailer’s actions were “deeply irresponsible”.
She said: “Selling corrosive products or alcohol to children is not only illegal but deeply irresponsible. These substances can cause real harm, and businesses must take their responsibilities seriously.
“Our Trading Standards team will continue to carry out regular test purchases to ensure retailers comply with the law and protect our residents.”
Council officers discovered that Whitechapel Poundshop Ltd, trading as Whitechapel Essential Houseware on Whitechapel Road, sold a bottle of Knockout Caustic Soda to a 16-year-old volunteer during a test purchase on March 1 this year.
The corrosive product, which contains sodium hydroxide, was clearly labelled with an age-restriction warning.
It was sold to the teenager by Abdul Alim, the company’s director, who failed to request proof of age.
Whitechapel Poundshop Ltd and Alim both pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates’ Court on September 30.
The company was fined £4,000, while Mr Alim was fined £692, alongside victim subcharges and costs.
That same day, a bottle of Knockout Drains, Toilets and Urinals Cleaner, another corrosive product, was sold to a child at Dolphins in Watney Market.
The sale was made by Mr Mohammed Madani who was fined £224, while a Mr Miah was fined £365 alongside victim subcharges and costs.
A Trading Standards investigation revealed that the business had no adequate controls in place to prevent underage sales.
Meanwhile, on August 16 last year, a 660ml bottle of Birra Moretti was sold to a 12-year-old at the Co-op, Mile End Road.
The sale was made by Mr Wasala Nawod Bandara, who had received company training but failed to follow procedures and did not ask for identification.
Mr Bandara was found guilty in his absence at Thames Magistrates’ Court on September 30 and was fined £660, alongside a victim subcharge and costs.
