You can now fill up on gas and booze at the Esso Automarket on Par-La-Ville Road in Hamilton, after the Liquor Licensing Board granted permission to sell cases of beer to the 24-hour gas station.

The licence was opposed on the grounds that the surrounding area could be affected, but the stipulation that only cases, and not individual bottles, would be sold alleviated that concern.

Owner Senator Raymond Tannock said: "We haven't actually received any written confirmation but, if it is the case then, of course, we are pleased.

"It is just a response to customer demand. I don't think there are any issues with trash. We will be selling cases only and we anticipate people will buy the beer and then take it to another location."

Cased beer will be on sale until 9 p.m. at the gas station.

Lawyer Ray DeSilva, who had been acting on behalf of a number of businesses in the vicinity, said when the issue was first raised in court that he was opposing the licence on the grounds that the surrounding area could be affected.

He said businesses were concerned about litter and trash being left behind, and about young people buying cases of beer and then sitting off nearby to drink it.