Gifford Shop Keeps Alcohol License Despite English Concerns

0:00It's March 26, I'm Corey with The Story. This is Edinburgh News Today, driven by AI. A small village shop in Gifford has held on to with alcohol license despite worries that staff lack enough English to properly check customer ages. The premier shop faced fresh scrutiny this week from the East Lothian Licensing Board after inspectors found issues during a visit. By a close 3-2 vote, the Board approved temporary occasional licenses for the store. The shop has been operating under the short-term permits since May of last year due to ongoing building repairs that delayed a full license. Application? Previously, in December 2023, the Board denied renewal because the license had expired. Only one worker was on shift who spoke little, English, and there was no training proof. Community leaders have backed the shop, calling it vital to the area and stressing the need for it to thrive. Staff members weighed the local support against repeated management red flags, including a recent incident where staff struggled with inspector.

1:03Questions? Owners explain that Sri Lankan staff are longtime friends with off-licensed experience from London, and they promise better daily oversight plus. Staff training, even as family newborn duties, pulled them away. Police are looking into the latest inspector encounter, but raised no objections. With this narrow approval, the shop gets another shot to fix operations, but Board leaders warned that future slip-ups could end sales for good.