ONE of Hereford’s new food stores faces a licence review after being caught selling alcohol to an underage girl.

The illegal sale took place at Tesco Express on Whitecross Road which opened last autumn at the former home of the Buckingham Inn.

The test purchase organised by Herefordshire Council’s trading standards department saw a 17-year-old sold a bottle of red wine without being challenged over her age.

Tesco says it is “disappointed” the sale was made and has launched an investigation.

Fred Spriggs, a licensing officer with the council, said Tesco had argued last September, when it was granted a premises licence, that it didn’t need an alcohol refusal log as they had “sufficient and suitable systems”, and training in place to prevent underage sales.

In a letter to the council requesting a review of the licence in light of the underage sale, Mr Spriggs said the purchase was carried out to test whether the store had sufficient procedures in place for its alcohol sales.

“A 17-year-old female was sold a bottle of Rioja Red wine,” he said. “She was not asked for ID or challenged on her age.

“There was no refusals register on the premises and when questioned the seller, deputy manager and acting manager, were not aware of a refusals register or that condition being on the licence.

“At the time of the sale the DPS (Designated Premises Supervisor) was not on the premises.”

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We have a strict Think 25 policy and are carrying out a full investigation.”

A consultation on the application to review the premises licence is underway and will end on May 9.

The matter is expected to be heard by Herefordshire Council’s regulatory sub-committee although a date for the hearing has yet to be set.