Maxxi Food & Wine was found by Haringey Council inspectors to be selling non-compliant e-cigarettes and erectile dysfunction medication without a medical registration, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

Maxxi Food & Wine in Crouch End (credit Google)

Councillors have agreed to revoke the licence of a Crouch End shop caught stocking banned goods.

Haringey Council’s licensing subcommittee found that “unlawful activity” had taken place at Maxxi Food and Wine in Topsfield Parade and had continued despite an intervention by trading standards officers.

In a decision notice published on Tuesday, the committee found the shop was stocking for sale non-compliant e-cigarettes and erectile dysfunction medication without a medical registration.

It also found the shop was selling nitrous oxide gas – also known as ‘laughing gas’ – “knowing or failing to have regard to the psychoactive effects and the risks for misuse, and in the knowledge that their customers consumed the substance outside the premises”.

The decision to revoke the shop’s licence to sell alcohol, which is subject to appeal, came after a meeting on 30th May when councillors considered evidence.

Trading standards officers reported finding nitrous oxide cartridges and erectile dysfunction pills at the shop on 11th January.

Then-licence holder Aylin Yengin claimed the medicines were already being sold when she took over the premises, and that she removed them after being told they were banned. She also claimed she did not allow nitrous oxide to be sold.

But during a return visit on 24th January officers found the items again, along with non-compliant e-cigarettes and a display of the recreational drug ‘poppers’. The committee accepted evidence that the erectile dysfunction pills were intended to be “sold at the premises at affordable prices without controls”.

Aylin also confirmed she was previously the owner of Maxi Stores in Southgate, which had its licence suspended by Enfield Council on 4th January after officials discovered non-compliant vapes and e-cigarettes, erectile dysfunction medication, nitrous oxide and drug paraphernalia on the premises.

The committee said Aylin was aware that the e-cigarettes offered were not lawful and that the erectile dysfunction pills were “illegal to sell over the counter” before the visit to the Crouch End shop. It also noted that “it had not been disputed that erectile dysfunction tablets were being offered for sale prior to the visit”.

On 3rd February, trading standards officers were made aware of a TikTok page that appeared to promote the business featuring videos “seemingly showing” nitrous oxide and e-cigarettes. The committee found this was “evidence that the licensing objective of protecting children from harm was undermined”.

After hearing evidence, the committee found that the sale of nitrous oxide from the shop had caused a “significant increase in antisocial behaviour outside the premises especially at unsociable hours”.

On 26th April, applications were made to transfer the premises licence to a new holder, but the committee found the unlawful activity had continued.

Councillors considered other options, including suspending the licence for three months, but decided revocation was “the only appropriate and proportionate response to the issues […] that would promote the licensing objectives”.

The licence holder has 21 days to appeal against the decision to a magistrates’ court. Agents representing the licence holder have been approached for comment.

Update (9th June):

Adam Jogee, cabinet member for community safety and cohesion, said: “Selling illegal and controlled products is something we simply cannot tolerate from our licensed premises in the borough, so I’m pleased to see that the licensing subcommittee has taken firm action in this case.

“My colleagues and I hope this serves as a reminder to licence holders across the community of how seriously we take offences like this.

“Our licensing objectives are there to prevent crime and protect people from harm, so I encourage all residents to share any concerns they have about businesses stocking non-compliant products or selling controlled products without the correct authorisation.”

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