A Solihull business has been prosecuted after selling alcohol to an underage customer during a test purchase operation.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's (SMBC) trading standards officers carried out the operation at The Vineyard, on Cheswick Way in Cheswick Green, in August.

During the visit, alcohol was sold to an underage test purchaser without any age-related checks being carried out.

The case was heard at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday, September 10, where The Vineyard Global Ltd was found guilty of selling an age-restricted product to a minor.

The company was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a further £1,000 in costs, along with a £400 victim surcharge.

Councillor Wazma Qais, SMBC's cabinet member for communities and leisure, welcomed the outcome.

She said: "We are pleased with the outcome of this case and thank the Regulatory Services team for their professionalism, dedication, and continued efforts to help keep Solihull safe.

"We are committed to ensuring that businesses operating in the borough do so legally.

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"This is not only for alcohol but for the sale of any age-restricted products, including knives, tobacco, vaping products and fireworks.

"The Council will continue to carry out test purchase operations throughout the borough.

"If you have any concerns about the sale of age-restricted products, please report this to Solihull Council on 0121 704 8001."