A WITNEY restaurant caught selling drink to a 14-year-old has been banned from selling alcohol.

House Wong, in High Street, has been stopped from selling alcohol by West Oxfordshire District Council after complaints about underage drinking. The restaurant had failed three test purchases, where on one occasion, alcohol was served to a 14-year-old.

The decision was made at a district council licensing meeting, after being brought up by Thames Valley Police.

Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the licensing panel, said: “The restaurant repeatedly failed to act on warnings and advice given by police and our council as the licensing authority to prevent underage drinking on its premises.

“There is clear evidence that alcohol has been served to minors on many occasions.

“We cannot, and will not, tolerate the flouting of laws that are in place to ensure that alcohol is served responsibly, especially when young people are involved.

“This is a message that we will take action if necessary to ensure that licensing obligations are being met in west Oxfordshire.”

The three underage test purchasing operations were carried out in December 2006, May 2008, and July 2009.

Police had also received complaints from parents that groups of teenagers were sold spirits, including sambuca, at the Chinese restaurant.

Lin Fong Cheung, the restaurant’s designated premises supervisor, was given a fixed penalty notice after the first failure, and received a caution after the second.

Following the third test purchase in July this year, he was convicted at Banbury Magistrates’ Court for selling alcohol to persons under the age of 18.

During the court hearing, 62-year-old Cheung, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was fined £360 and ordered to pay £80 costs.

Lou Branney, of Thames Valley Police’s licensing department, said: “We are very pleased with the licensing panel’s decision, as we felt that the licence review was the only course of action left to address this continuing problem.

“Underage drinking is recognised as a contributing factor to crime and disorder, and we are grateful that such a robust stance has been taken to address this serious issue.”

House Wong has 21 days to appeal against the decision, which expires on Tuesday next week.

The restaurant can carry on selling alcohol until this date.

There has been no appeal made so far.

The restaurant still has a premises licence, along with a late-night refreshments licence, and can sell food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Last night, no one from the restaurant was available for comment.

Source: Witney Gazette