Reviews and Enforcement
Trading Standards/Weights and Measures
Trading Standards Officers have a wide variety of responsibilities and may well visit your premises.
They will often randomly test spirits to make sure that they have the correct ABV and that they are indeed the brand shown on the label. They can carry out a preliminary analysis there and then which is sufficient to determine whether there are failings in either regard. This will then be followed up by a formal sample being sent off to a laboratory for analysis.
From an operator's point of view it is therefore imperative to properly train staff in terms of how to correctly store and dispense spirits. Leaving bottles open overnight may leave them exposed to natural processes of evaporation and condensation which may adversely affect both the ABV and the quality of the spirit. This can lead to problems.
Prosecutions are dealt with severely by the Courts and may even land in the Crown Court. Fines - even in the Magistrates' Court - can be up to £20,000 per bottle and are unlimited in the Crown Court.
Trading Standards Officers may also order drinks and then measure them to determine that your staff have not under or over poured. They will do this with spirits, wine and also beer. There is a very low tolerance for error and therefore once again staff need to be trained in terms of accurately dispensing measures even when they are very busy. Prosecutions can once again run into thousands of pounds in the Magistrates' Court.
Both the prices and volumes in which drinks are dispensed should be clearly displayed within the premises so that customers know exactly what they are paying for. Failure to do so can once again result in prosecution.
If you have any queries please contact Graeme Cushion or tel. 0115 953 8503 or 07769 720319.