Police suspect children were able to buy 'strong-smelling red wine' from a shop without an alcohol licence, council papers say.

SK First Stop Ltd bosses have applied for a booze licence at La Romica Magazin Romanesc on Avenue Street in Stockport.

The application will be discussed by councillors on June 10. Concerns have been raised by Greater Manchester Police and a town hall licensing officer.

Shop owner Laurentiu Creanga told the LDRS: "I have sorted everything and hopefully they will give me the licence", adding: "I make no money. I will make more perhaps with alcohol, hopefully."

In a representation to the council, an officer named as PC Ellison said they received intelligence in June 2025 that the business 'was selling wine without a valid premises licence in place'.

It was suggested to police wine was sold to customers in empty water or carbonated drink bottles, council papers say.

"The information suggested that children were able to buy this wine from the premises on behalf of their parents," documents state.

Police visited the shop with members of Stockport council's licensing team on June 26 last year. Six boxes of wine were found downstairs in cask bags between 15 to 25 litres, it was said.

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The liquid that came out 'revealed a strong-smelling red wine', council papers add.

Next to the wine were 15 empty water bottles 'consistent with the intelligence that [had] prompted the visit', town hall documents say.

Police said a staff member at the time said she was 'unaware of this alcohol as she never entered the stockroom'.

PC Ellison said they found 'a large storage container' with 58 boxes of medication that was labelled with the Romanian word for antibiotics, 'antibiotice'. Priced at £10, they were 'seized and destroyed', papers add.

Police said the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency issued a compliance notice to Mr Creanga, who denied selling alcohol but would look to obtain a licence so he could legally.

PC Ellison said: "Given the discovery of alcohol, price-marked prescription-strength medications and the intelligence indicating unlawful alcohol sales and sales of alcohol to children, Greater Manchester Police cannot have faith that the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and the protection of children from harm will be upheld."

A council licensing officer said a visit was council visit was carried out on May 12.

No representations had been received by that point meaning the licence would have been automatically granted on May 14.

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But after meeting with representatives at the shop, the council officer said they did not seem to be aware of various conditions included in their application including around notices and CCTV.

A council report said Georgiana-Alice Stefan, the proposed premises supervisor, told officers she was unable to operate the latter.

At the time of the visit, there was no refusals or incident log book. The officer said those at the shop were unaware what these were and required staff training has not been carried out.

Mr Spencer said behind the council were 'eight packets of illicit cigarettes' though Ms Stefan 'said they were for personal use'. Another box of medication was also found which were labelled as antibiotics, despite the previous warnings given to the shop, council papers adds.

The council officer said he was told by the shop owner Mr Creanga 'he requires the premises licence as the shop is not performing well financially', adding: "This raises concerns that he may be at risk of prioritising profit over public safety."

Speaking to the LDRS ahead of the meeting, Mr Creanga said: "They came to mine and found some alcohol but it was non-sale. It was in the back. I was there but I took everything from there."

On the medication, he said: "I did not know I was not allowed to sell it. After they came, now I know you can't do that." He also said the CCTV and the shop was now fully compliant with the conditions proposed in the licence application including staff training and a refusals book.

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