Neighbours fear that if a drinks licence is granted for a vegan store in Brighton, the current product mix could easily shift more towards alcohol.
They were also worried that the business might fail and that the premises could end up in the hands of someone keener to exploit the drinks licence.
The concerns were spelt out by members of the North Laine Community Association as they fought to prevent a premises licence being granted to the newly opened Captain Pig in Church Street.
One of the community association’s licensing co-ordinators, Roy Skam, said that there was a high turnover of shops at the top end of the street.
He was concerned that the business might fail and another company could come in and take over the premises licence and sell a much wider and cheaper range of drinks.
Mr Skam said: “Conditions can change. If they see high-end beers don’t sell, they’ll sell low-end ones.
“They may say only 5 per cent of the business will be alcohol but it might be 15 or 50.”
He was also concerned that any conditions placed on the licence would not be enforced by follow-up visits by Sussex Police or environmental health officers from the council.
Licensing officer Mark Savage-Brooks, from Brighton and Hove City Council, said that officials always checked businesses with new licences but generally, like the police, the council relied on people reporting problems.
Sandy Crowhurst, who is also a licensing co-ordinator for the North Laine Community Association, told a council licensing panel about three newsagents in the area.
She said that they were now more devoted to selling alcohol than providing somewhere for residents to pop out to for milk and newspapers.
The North Laine area had changed since the licensing laws were relaxed in 2005 to allow longer opening hours, she said.
Since then, the number of licensed businesses had gone up from 20 to 76 in an area measuring just 600 square metres.
Mrs Crowhurst told the licensing panel at Hove Town Hall today (Friday 16 August): “The area is becoming more popular which has its advantages and disadvantages.
“The economy has improved and we love our shops. But now many streets are dominated by licensed premises. The character of the area has changed into a food and drink quarter.
“Residents are being ignored when these licences come in. We support the new shop, not an off-licence.”
