A shop failed to receive permission to sell alcohol again after after the owner "failed to show an understanding" of what was required to hold a licence.

Convenience store DKSR, which lost its license after it was caught selling alcohol to children, was seeking a new premises licence from Watford Borough Council.

The Whippendell Road store has been banned from selling booze since 2013 after the family-run business surrendered its licence.

But at a meeting earlier this month, owner Srithas Sundralingham attempted to have the licence reinstated but the request was blocked by the council's sub-licensing committee.

The committee rejected the application because the applicant "failed to show a clear understanding of the licensing legislation and the requirements of licensing".

When a business is granted a licence, it must promote four objectives which are: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; the protection of children from harm.

The sub-committee was of the view that if the application was granted, the licensing objectives would be "undermined".

Related: Watford shop banned from selling alcohol since 2013 refused new licence

Both the police and council's community safety co-ordinator had called for DKSR's application to be rejected.

Sergeant Luke Mitchell said there has been a "long negative history" with the shop, while community safety officer Liam Fitzgerald said there had been a "dramatic reduction" in street drinking in this part of Whippendell Road since DKSR's licence had been surrendered.

There were at least three occasions where the shop was caught selling alcohol to children - between 2010 and 2012 - while Sergeant Mitchell says alcohol was also being sold to drunk customers and outside of licensed hours.

At the sub-licensing committee meeting on February 2, Mr Sundralingham's representative Surendra Panchal, from Personal Licence Courses, said his client had "learnt his lesson" and explained how the four licensing objectives will be "robustly" met including regular training and a Challenge 25 policy.

The shop owner was asked by the committee to explain the licensing objectives but he was unable to - Mr Panchal attributed it to "nerves".

Sergeant Mitchell told the committee he had heard nothing from Mr Sundalingham and his representative during the meeting to change his mind and said there are "a lot of red flags".

He said: "I haven't been convinced by what has been said today, he (Mr Sundalingham) couldn’t even explain the four licensing objectives. I appreciate there may be a language barrier but these are absolute basics. I can’t see how we can have trust and confidence in this gentleman carrying out licensable activities."

The officer added having an alcohol licence is a "big responsibility" and said given the shop's history, he was not prepared to "risk" supporting the application.

The committee retired to make a decision with the council subsequently confirming DKSR's application had been turned down.

The company representing Mr Sundralingham was approached for comment.