Cornwall gift shop says allowing it to sell booze will add positivity to Newquay’s ‘no go zone’

The owner of a new Cornish gift shop denies allowing it to sell booze will contribute to anti-social behavior in what has been described as a “no go zone” in Newquay. Craig Jenkin applied for a license to sell bottles of craft alcohol in his shop, All Things Cornwall, on East Street in the resort.

However, neighbors expressed concern that it would add to drunken behavior in the area, where cheap alcohol is sold at nearby Tesco and Bargain Booze stores. Mr Jenkin explained at a Cornwall Council licensing meeting today (Wednesday June 26) that the sale of gin, rum and whiskey produced in Cornwall will primarily be to tourists and is unlikely to be accessible to street drinkers .

It followed concerns raised by Sue and Vernon Roberts, who live in East Street. Mrs Roberts wrote to the council saying: “I’m sure you are aware of the constant anti-social behavior that takes place, usually outside the Post Office but also outside Bargain Booze. As residents and many tourists, we suffer from intimidation, sometimes on purpose, by fighting. , foul language, littering and sometimes it feels like this part of East Street is a no-go zone.

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“The almost daily drug use and consumption is partly a result of the sale of alcohol being available throughout the day and evening. In my opinion Bargain Booze’s sale of individual cases of alcohol encourages and contributes to this behaviour. and it’s something that could be looked at as part of their license.

“I understand that All Things Cornwall do not intend to sell individual cases of alcohol, but there is absolutely no need to sell alcohol on East Street anymore.” It has been suggested that street benches and telephone boxes could be removed to stop street drinking.

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The store is based in a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ), which has been established in an area where there is a high density of premises selling alcohol in an attempt to stop crime and associated disorder, anti-social behavior and public nuisance.

Mr Jenkin told the licensing committee that if anything his shop, which has been open for a month, would add something positive to the area rather than add to anything negative. He said: “I would like to reiterate that I have complete and utter sympathy for Mr and Mrs Roberts and the problems they have faced. I experienced the same thing when I worked at Normans (a former cash and carry in Camborne) and it is not pleasant. However, I believe that actions such as removing banks and phone boxes and denying licenses are not the answer.

“The feedback we’ve had from customers… they love the store. They say how beautiful it is. People really appreciate having a store like this in this end of town; end of town which mr and mrs roberts have declared a ‘no go zone’ we have a bike hire place next door there is someone going into what i think was argos now so there are positives in the area. “

Mr Jenkin added: “They’re not doing what Tesco and Bargain Booze are – this is local, craft alcohol; gins, rum, whiskey. My retail brand will be well above those stores. Antisocial behavior and problem drinking… . They’ll work out that they can walk across the street and get two bottles for the price of one from me.

“I fail to see how this will increase the problem of negative anti-social behavior in the area. I hope it will attract tourists and locals and be a positive thing for the area.”

The committee agreed with the license and felt it would not have a negative impact on the area as it would not be selling individual bottles or cans of beer or cider or cheap alcohol. They noted that it could have a positive impact on the area as a destination for tourists and locals.

After the meeting, Mr Jenkin said: “I am very pleased with the outcome of the hearing. The feedback and support we have received from our customers has been fantastic and now they will be able to enjoy more of the delights of our local artisans. produced them and I support them too”.