24-hour drink bid a ‘bad idea’ (From The Oxford Times)

24-hour drink bid a ‘bad idea’

7:00am Monday 18th February 2013 in News By Freddie Whittaker, covering Politics and Kidlington. Call me on 01865 425498

Elizabeth Mills

A BID to sell food and alcohol 24 hours a day from a home in South Oxford has sparked concerns.

Georgios Stavropoulos has applied to Oxford City Council for a premises licence at 25 Gordon Street, off Vicarage Road.

He wants to sell Greek deli food products and alcohol over the internet for delivery from the house. No face-to-face alcohol sales would be made.

But campaigners in areas heavily populated by students say they are worried about the impact the service might have.

Divinity Road Area Residents’ Association chairman Elizabeth Mills said: “Anything which makes alcohol more readily available to an already alcohol-soaked section of our community is a bad idea.

“If they’re running a door-to-door delivery service, with all the costs associated with that, they’re going to have to seriously mark up their prices.

“It’s likely they would only get purchasers who are already very drunk and are calling to get hold of more alcohol. I can’t imagine anyone with a large amount of forethought would use their service.

“They shouldn’t be given a licence, it would be a disaster if they were.”

In his application to the council, Mr Stavropoulos re-assured officers he would not be selling alcohol directly from the premises in Gordon Street – only online.

He said: “Our courier will ask for valid ID. No consumption, or sales of alcohol will take place in the premises.”

Oxfordshire County Councillor John Tanner, who represents residents in Gordon Street as part of his Isis council ward, said he wasn’t opposed to the idea, but questioned the need for the service to run 24 hours a day.

He said: “I think the licensing committee will want to be satisfied there won’t be disruption to residents, particularly if it’s going to be running 24-7.

“I would be unhappy with the idea of scooters and vans travelling in and out of quite narrow streets at 3am, but I wouldn’t rule out the idea altogether.”

If the bid is approved, the service won’t be the first in the city. The 247 Alcohol Delivery Service is already popular in the city and wider Oxfordshire.

Mr Stavropoulos was unavailable for comment.