Licensed shop opens close to alcohol treatment centre in North Ayrshire

The go ahead has been given for a shop to secure a provisional premises licence – despite the business being directly below an alcohol treatment centre.

Chris McMail from Microtech applied to North Ayrshire licensing board for the licence for the unit, at the Grange Business Centre in Stevenston, which sits above the Turning Point (Scotland) organisation.

The premises had twice been knocked back by the previous board.

Mr McMail said: “This shows our commitment to Ayrshire, bringing this retail unit back into operation would bring additional jobs. We insist staff go on licence training courses and are aware of our obligations.

“Turning Point are a tenant of ours and we would work with them to minimise any concerns.

“We will ensure minimal alcohol advertising on the premises and will sit down with Turning Point. I am happy to promote some posters and literature [of] their work.”

Gary Douglas from Turning Point (Scotland) said: “Regardless of the decision, we urge you to open the shop and go ahead with or without an alcohol licence. Chris has been a great advocate of Turning Point Scotland.

“I have concerns about the location of the shop but Chris has said there will be no advertising of alcohol.

“We urge people to swap standard alcohol for a wide range of non-alcoholic alternatives. If you were to recommend these, we would send our clients in.

“We want you to follow healthy choices, the community would support you and we would urge other businesses to support you.

“We offer and encourage harm reduction interventions to people to take alcohol. We urge people to swap standard alcohol for a wide range of non-alcoholic alternatives.”

Councillor Nairn McDonald said: “It’s welcome to have new employment, especially in Stevenston, where there has been a higher rate of unemployment than some.”

The licence was granted.