Eastbourne shop has licence revoked due to illegal vapes

The convenience store Zap (also known as Zap off-licence), located on Seaside Road in Eastbourne, has had its premises licence revoked.

An Eastbourne Borough Council licensing panel made the decision following a review application submitted by East Sussex Trading Standards. The decision was driven by a history of non-compliance and a recent court conviction involving the business director, Hamza Pirot, for selling overcapacity e-cigarettes. 

Key details from the investigation include:

• April 2023: Trading Standards officers discovered over 300 illegal vapes at the shop, resulting in a formal warning letter.
• April 2024: A subsequent raid uncovered an additional 1,866 illegal vapes, with the vast majority hidden in the shop's basement.
• February 2026: Mr Pirot was convicted of all offences at Brighton Magistrates' Court following a short trial. 

During the licensing hearing, representatives for the business argued for a temporary suspension or the appointment of a new Designated Premises Supervisor. However, the subcommittee ruled that a suspension was insufficient due to a consistent disregard for regulations and a repeated history of failings. Mr Pirot stated he intends to stop selling vape products entirely, but the council maintained that revocation was necessary to uphold licensing objectives. The business has 21 days to appeal the decision.