30/10/2009 - Booze ban a boost for business
A Wallsend shopkeeper who boosted business by banning under-21s from buying alcohol and cigarettes has called for other store owners to do the same.
The ban was instigated by a project known as Sub 21, in which Wallsend council joined the police, schools and youth clubs in banning the sale of alcohol to youngsters in Wallsend, Howdon and Battle Hill.
The ban was only intended for Fridays and weekends. But Sagheer Khan, who runs a city centre store, applied it every night, and extended it to cover cigarettes as well.
He said: "One or two people moaned at first, but now they understand. At first sales dipped, but because the ban means fewer young people hanging around outside, more customers are coming in for other things. I should have done this years ago."
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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