Maxxi Food & Wine was caught stocking non-compliant e-cigarettes, erectile dysfunction pills, drug paraphernalia and nitrous oxide, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

Maxxi Food & Wine in Crouch End (credit Google)

A Crouch End shop is being “let off the hook” for stocking prohibited goods because of repeated delays to a licence review, Haringey’s opposition leader has warned.

Maxxi Food & Wine, in Topsfield Parade, is set to have its premises licence reviewed after it was caught stocking non-compliant e-cigarettes, erectile dysfunction pills, drug paraphernalia, and nitrous oxide – also known as ‘laughing gas’.

Trading standards officers applied for the review in March. A review hearing, where councillors consider evidence before deciding whether to revoke a licence or impose other sanctions, was originally planned for 4th April but was adjourned before getting underway.

The review hearing was rescheduled for 25th April, but this meeting could not go ahead because one of the committee members, Emine Ibrahim, was absent. A further meeting was scheduled for 16th May but subsequently cancelled, and the hearing is now not expected to happen until Tuesday, 30th May.

Luke Cawley-Harrison, Lib Dem opposition leader and ward councillor for Crouch End, said: “It is shocking that this licence review has been postponed multiple times now, including one case which was due to a Labour councillor failing to show up as a panel member.

“Each time this review is postponed the shop is let off the hook […] allowing them to continue as if nothing has happened. Residents have had to deal with the antisocial behaviour caused by this business for long enough, and we must get on with this review as soon as possible.”

Reports prepared for a previous licensing subcommittee meeting state that trading standards officers found nitrous oxide cartridges and erectile dysfunction tablets at the shop on 11th January and on a return visit on 24th January, when they also discovered non-compliant e-cigarettes.

During the second visit, a display of the recreational drug ‘poppers’ was also found on the counter.

On 3rd February, officers were made aware of a TikTok page that appears to promote the business featuring videos “seemingly showing” nitrous oxide and e-cigarettes. The trading standards report states that they were presented in a manner “which could be appealing to young people”.

Nitrous oxide can be damaging to health and it is illegal to sell it for recreational use or to anyone under the age of 18 years. The erectile dysfunction tablets discovered are classed as controlled medicines and should only be available on prescription or for sale over the counter from pharmacies.

Trading standards recommended removing the shop’s designated supervisor and suspending the licence for three months to allow for proper controls and training to be put in place.

The Metropolitan Police said the premises licence should be revoked, stating that the failure to uphold licensing objectives had created “areas of antisocial behaviour”. Council licensing chiefs also called for a revocation, citing “a clear pattern of non-compliance regardless of attempts to work with the business”.

A Haringey Council spokesperson said: “The review application relating to Maxxi Food & Wine was adjourned prior to the hearing getting underway on the original date of 4th April as new evidence came to light at short notice.

“A request from the legal representative for the licensee was made asking for time to consider the late documents and be in a position to discuss with his clients. The licensing subcommittee accepted this and felt it was in the public interest to do so to ensure there was a fair hearing.

“The rescheduled hearing on 25th April was unable to go ahead due to the required number of licensing subcommittee members not being available. The hearing was once again rescheduled for 16th May, however this date was not suitable for the licensee because of an overseas trip which had been planned before the hearing date was announced.

“The hearing will now go ahead on 30th May at 7pm via remote hearing arrangements, and all parties have been notified.”

Cllr Ibrahim and the licensee’s legal representative have been approached for comment.

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