Shoppers got a shock when they tried to go up the booze aisle at Tesco but found it barricaded by POLICE – because the store’s alcohol licence had expired.
Officers blocked off the wine and beer aisle at the new Tesco Extra store in Brockworth, Glos., after discovering the supermarket did not have a valid booze licence.
One shopper said: ”I was pushing my trolley around and the police were suddenly there.
”Staff then barricaded the aisles with tall trolleys.”
A member of staff at the newly refurbished store, who asked not to be named, said: ”The police came in and told us we couldn’t sell alcohol any more.
”I’m not sure what the problem is.”
Gloucestershire police yesterday confirmed they had stopped the sale of alcohol at the store at 4pm last Thursday.
It emerged the new £7 million store which opened last Monday had been trading without a valid alcohol licence.
The aisle was re-opened hours later after Tesco chiefs were issued with a new licence.
Licensing officer Pc Andy Cook said: ”Tesco was prevented from selling alcohol for a number of hours, as it had been doing so without a licence.
”The issue was quickly resolved with cooperation from the management at the store and a new licence has now been issued.
”Due to the extended hours at the store and their new licence a meeting has been arranged with staff at the store, the local policing team and licensing officers to ensure that it has no adverse effects on the local community.”
A Tesco spokesman refused to comment on the booze ban, but said: ”We have a close working relationship with the local authorities and we work with them to continue to offer our customers the opportunity to buy alcohol from our store.”
