A corner shop in Mitcham could permanently lose its licence after a 15-year-old was able to buy a bottle of Guinness. 

The licence of Ronnie’s Cutter in Upper Green East will be considered by Merton Council’s licensing committee on Wednesday (June 27).

In March a 15-year-old boy bought alcohol from the shop on behalf of Trading Standards. He was not asked his age or to show ID.

The shop is owned by Ronak Patel but now leased to another person.

In a letter to the council Mr Patel surrendered his licence ‘with sadness’ and said it was his mistake not transferring it to the shop’s new manager.

He added that in his 16 years as the licence holder his record has been ‘very good’.

But Figges Marsh ward councillor Geraldine Stanford urged the council to fully remove the licence.

In a written representation the ward councillor for the area said: “I have also had many complaints from residents living in nearby roads, that street drinkers regularly gather in their streets, causing antisocial behaviour by noise, littering and urinating in the streets.

“We have had problems with street drinkers around the Fair Green, Three Kings Pond and Mitcham Common for some years now, and this is fuelled by the many outlets selling alcohol in the area – often till late at night.”