A Dundee Masonic club has had its alcohol licence suspended for a week after being caught selling drink outwith its permitted hours.
The city council’s licensing board imposed the penalty on St David’s Masonic Social Club on Nethergate yesterday after receiving a tip-off that it was selling alcohol in the morning “on a daily basis”.
Board convener David Bowes said: “This is a strong warning to all licensed premises that this will not be tolerated by the board and they have got to adhere strictly to their licensing conditions.”
At yesterday’s monthly board meeting, members heard licensing officers arrived at the club at 10.35am on a Friday 25 minutes before the club can legally sell alcohol. They found seven men at tables drinking beer and lager while a male and a female sitting nearby had been served a gin and tonic and a vodka and lemonade.
Council licensing standards officer Graeme Petrie said barman Thomas Duncan claimed it was the first time he had served out of hours.
He said: “Information was received from a source to the effect that people were consuming alcohol prior to consumption hours on a daily basis and the premises were not operating like a club, but like a traditional public house. Neither the male nor the female was on the premises at the invitation of a member or accompanied by a member.
“The bar steward admitted he had supplied the patrons with alcohol, but said this was the first occasion he had done so.”
The club is licensed to sell alcohol from 11am until midnight Monday to Saturday and 12.30pm until midnight on Sundays.
An inspection of the club’s cash register on March 28 revealed alcohol was being sold earlier than that.
A total of £17.65 of alcohol was sold before 11am on January 28, £36.55 on the morning of January 30 and £21.40 on February 1.
awilson@thecourier.co.uk