A councillor’s campaign to block a grocery delivery app from selling alcohol has remained unsuccessful, as the firm reached an agreement with the council.
Cllr Rabina Khan argued that delivery app Weezy being allowed to sell booze to customers could increase the antisocial behaviour and public nuisance in her ward.
Over 100 people signed the Tower Hamlets councillor’s petition opposing the alcohol license.
But Weezy argued that alcohol was only a small part of its business and that delivering it to customers would not contribute to antisocial behaviour.
She sent two letters to Tower Hamlets Council in which she protested that public safety would be harmed by Weezy selling alcohol.
She claimed that in her ward of Shadwell, dozens of crimes including antisocial behaviour offences had been fuelled by binge drinking.
She said: “My family and I would like to feel safe in our home and walking down the street. I have been verbally abused by drunks and on many occasions have feared for my safety.
“The easier it is to buy alcohol locally – whether online or from the premises – the more people will drink.”
In addition to her objections, 118 people signed a petition against Weezy being allowed to sell alcohol.
Weezy rejected the idea that its alcohol license would cause any of the problems the Liberal Democrat councillor suggested.
For Weezy, solicitor Suraj Desor, said: “Weezy have training, policies, and procedures in place to ensure the premises operates at a high standard.
“Weezy do not deliver alcohol to public places (e.g. parks) and there is no public access to the premises, these are offered as conditions of the licence.
“This prevents customer ‘walk-ins’ for sale of alcohol and risk of street drinking, distinguishing it from typical off-licences.
“There is no evidence to suggest where our customers purchase alcohol as part of an order that automatically results in crime and disorder or anti-social behaviour, and that is not my client’s experience.
“My client’s intended customer market is local people who want an efficient and effective way to have groceries delivered to them, which may include alcohol.”
Weezy have agreed a number of conditions with Tower Hamlets Council for their alcohol license, including minimising public nuisance caused by their riders, and a warning on the app to ensure customers buying alcohol are over 18.
Brian McLister
