The Walton Mart in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, has had its permission to sell alcohol taken away after failing to stop children from buying alcohol and vapes. A local licensing hearing on January 27, 2026, found that the shop had repeatedly failed to ask young customers for proof of age during the end of last year.
Staff at the shop at 20 St Johns Drive failed several test purchases organised by Surrey Police between September and October 2025. Officers found that underage customers were regularly able to buy restricted items without being checked for identification.
The Elmbridge Borough Council licensing committee decided to stop the sales after police linked the shop to antisocial behaviour on the St John’s estate. The committee ruled that the business had prioritised daily sales over the safety of children and local crime prevention.
The shop owner, who has held the licence since 2005, argued that the decision was too harsh given the shop’s 20-year history. While the shop remains open for general groceries, the ban on alcohol sales is immediate, and the owner has until February 21, 2026, to appeal the decision.
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