Owners of Stevenston Post Office applied to licensing chiefs to increase their alcohol display by nearly 50 per cent.
They wanted to expand their capacity of alcohol from 16.875 sq. m to 25.78 sq. m.
This tied in with their plans to double the size of the store from 85 sq. m to 174 sq. m as business has increased considerably since more people have been working at home as a result of the Covid pandemic.
Owner Manpreet Bawa told a North Ayrshire Council licensing board meeting: “People are asking for a bottle of wine to cook so we are increasing a little bit in wines.
“Young people should not be attracted to these fancy cans.
"Alcohol will now be in a section where they don’t have to go if they’re sent round for, say, a loaf of bread or some mlik.
“We know there has been an increase in the consumption of alcohol during lockdown. As a community retailer, we made a decision to take the high percentage beer like super lager off the shelves and we no longer sell it.”
Councillor Jean McClung said the Post Office was a very well run and respected premises which engaged the community.
The shop owner said refusal of the plans would have jeopardised expansion proposals as eight new jobs had been created..
Owners were described as “community-minded" and "responsible licensees" by board chair Eleaor Collier who said that, by doubling the size of the shop,they were reducing the display of alcohol in the store.
The premises had been closed while the work was being completed and will reopen very soon.
Licensing board members agreed to back the application.
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