A FOOD and drink delivery service has applied for an alcohol licence.

Zapp plan to deliver alcohol around the city from 8am until midnight, but there are concerns sixth-formers at Brighton College will be able to order booze.

The business, based just around the corner from the independent school, promise to take measures to prevent deliveries to youngsters who are boarding there.

A council have heard a number of concerns around the service, which would be operated from the Freshfield Industrial Estate in Stevenson Road, Brighton.

Zapp’s solicitor Robert Botkai told a licensing panel that late night deliveries to people’s homes would not lead to more crime or anti-social behaviour in the centre of the city.

He said: “The normal concerns that would apply to an off-licence shop selling between 11pm and 12 midnight simply don’t apply here.

“We’re not going to be having customers going to our premises, perhaps worse for wear, and getting an extra drink.

“This is allowing people the freedom to buy and order for delivery to their home.”

The Argus: Quick Commerce plans to operate from Freshfield Business ParkQuick Commerce plans to operate from Freshfield Business Park

The company behind Zapp, Quick Commerce, originally wanted a 24-hour licence to deliver drink and food.

Sussex Police opposed the application for a 24-hour licence, proposing deliveries until midnight as a compromise.

This is an hour later than Brighton and Hove City Council’s licensing policy usually permits.

The council’s policy sets a closing time of 11pm at the latest for new off-licences, other than in exceptional cases.

Council licensing officials objected to the original proposal as well as to the compromise at a licensing panel hearing on Wednesday.

Licensing official Donna Lynsdale said that the council was concerned about more alcohol being delivered after 11pm to areas affected by drink-related crime and disorder.

A resident, Martin McManus, also objected to the licence application. He was concerned that sixth-form borders at Brighton College would be able to order in drink, even if they were over 18.

Mr Botkai said the company would work with the 175-year-old school on Eastern Road.

He also said that if a licence was granted, he planned to check with police every three months to assess what effect the delivery service was having on crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Argus: Brighton College is just around the corner from Zapp's baseBrighton College is just around the corner from Zapp's base

If there were no issues, then Zapp would apply to vary the hours to allow drink to be delivered 24 hours a day.

Zapp’s head of expansion, Nils Howland, said that all its riders were trained and employed on a regular wage, with no zero-hours contracts.

Riders were not incentivised for speedy deliveries, he said, although the company promoted itself as offering groceries within 20 minutes of an order being placed.

During the past four months three firms have applied for a drinks licence for an online or app-based delivery service.

In May, Weezy was granted a licence to deliver until 11pm from its base in Newtown Road, Hove, but not from its depot in Trafalgar Street, Brighton.

Getir wanted a 24-hour licence for its base at St Joseph’s Business Park, in St Joseph’s Mews, Hove, but last month councillors granted a licence from 9am to 11pm each day.

The panel retired to reach a decision which should be made public within five working days.

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