THE owner of a convenience store was criticised by councillors as he asked them to extend his alcohol licence until 1am.

Trading Standards officers opposed Mudasar Ali’s plan to extend the opening hours at his shop Apple Cart, also known as Best One, in Lewes Road, Brighton.

One official, Catriona MacBeth, said staff had previously sold alcohol to an under-age shopper during a test purchase.

Officers said “illicit alcohol” had been on sale at the shop .

A Brighton and Hove City Council licensing meeting on Friday heard the illegal drink was later destroyed.

Mr Ali said he had since dismissed the worker who sold alcohol to an under-age shopper and ensured all his staff had received licensing training.

He said the “illicit alcohol” was bought by a member of staff without his permission and that everything else had come from a legitimate cash and carry.

Conservative councillor Lynda Hyde said: “I feel at this moment it is a bit of a cat-and-mouse game between the authorities and the owner.

“When they’re caught, they are pushed kicking and screaming and made to do something to amend their non-compliance.”

Panel chairwoman Jackie O’Quinn asked Mr Ali about out-of-date items found on sale in the shop in July. It was described by Trading Standards as an example of poor management.

Mr Ali said a new member of staff was not properly trained and the out-of-date products were in his area of the shop.

Cllr O’Quinn said: “It comes down to management, whose job it is to manage the staff.

“You cannot say staff did not do this. It is your job to train and oversee them, especially with alcohol sales.

“It is a huge responsibility to sell alcohol and we do not give out licences lightly.”

Mr Ali had applied to extend the opening hours until 2am on weekdays and 3am at weekends.

But in a last-minute change put forward by licensing consultant Graham Hopkins, he proposed closing at midnight on weekdays and 1am at weekends and on bank holidays.

 Mr Ali offered to ensure that three members of staff were working in the shop during late-night opening hours.

And he committed to completing licensed door supervisor training and maintaining an incident book at the shop.

The licensing panel told Mr Ali he would be told its decision within five working days.