A Perth alcohol retailer has been given a second chance after telling councillors it wanted to shed its previous reputation of selling to under-age drinkers.
Cosby’s had its licence to deliver alcohol suspended last year after a 16-year-old was able to buy alcohol over the phone and gave it to a 14-year-old.
Police representatives objected to the resumption of the delivery service but Sharanjut Bookher was able to convince Perth and Kinross Council’s licensing committee that strict new checks would be put in place to prevent a repeat of the incident.
He said the firm wanted to move away from selling cheap alcohol in high volumes and focus on more niche markets such as micro-brewery beers and high-end spirits.
Bruce Kerr, of Police Scotland, urged councillors to refuse the application.
He said: “It was discovered that it was common knowledge and accepted in the area that alcohol could be acquired by telephoning Cosby’s and identification would never be asked for.
“Since the implication of conditions, the premises has not come to the attention of police.”
Mr Bookher, who took over the running of the Crieff Road business after the incident, said in future new customers would have to register with the company before being able to order over the phone.
He said all bottles would be marked with ultraviolet pen to allow them to be traced and checked against a register of sales and that all deliveries would be made by himself.
“We are trying to get rid of the reputation which the business has had for 20 years,” he said.
“I have people coming in and saying that when they were 15 they would come to get cheap alcohol.
“We are trying to move away from cheap, high volume alcohol.”
Councillors voted three in favour of rejecting the application and three in favour of approving subject to conditions, leaving convener Henry Anderson to cast the deciding vote.
He said that despite reservations he would approve the application.