DRINKERS will not be able to buy single cans of beer, lager or cider with an alcohol content of six per cent or above from a Tiverton shop that has gained an alcohol licence.

The prohibition of the high-strength, single-can drink sales from the new Spar in Bampton Street came due to fears raised by local police.

Mid Devon District Council’s licensing sub-committee had been asked by the shop to let it sell alcohol from 6am until midnight from Sunday through to Thursday, and then from 6am until 1am on Friday and Saturday.

The restriction that prevents single, strong beer and cider being sold came as a condition agreed with the town’s police and amid residents’ fears about another shop selling alcohol in the area.

Five residents had submitted written objections to the licensing application by Spar, with most referencing that enough shops in the area already sold alcohol, and that there were problems with anti-social behaviour.

Resident Wayne Baker said he felt there was a “risk of increased anti-social behaviour and public nuisance”, while Sharon Dart claimed there had been “lots of break-ins in the town”, especially in terms of businesses that sell alcohol.

“This contributes to the strain on local services,” she added.

“The high street is becoming an inappropriate environment for children with visible alcohol use and public drunkenness.”

Another resident, Val Sanders, also feared “increased nuisance from drunken behaviour”, adding that the proximity of other shops already leads to “loitering, noise and littering”.

The application, submitted by Russh Limited, sought a premises licence for the Spar at 23 Bampton Street – currently Exe Valley News and Cards.

The applicant outlined several steps to address the four licensing objectives, including installing a CCTV system, training staff in licensing law, maintaining an incident book and alcohol refusals register, and enforcing a Challenge 25 policy.