Short measures being served in some pubs and bars

With the festive season in full swing, a recent survey by Swindon Borough Council’s Trading Standards team found that short measures are being served in some pubs and bars.

In a joint inspection with the Council’s Licensing department, Trading Standards officers visited 10 bars and pubs in the Borough and found that over two thirds (70 per cent) of the drinks purchased were short measured.

A short measure means that the beer or wine the customer receives is less than the prescribed quantity required by The Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order 1988. These quantities vary depending on the drink served, but include pints, half pints for beer, and 175ml glasses for wine.

Posing as members of the public at each venue, Trading Standards officers ordered a medium glass of white wine and a single vodka.

The results of the survey found:

• 70 per cent (14/20) of the total drinks bought were a short measure
• 60 per cent (6/10) of the glasses of wine bought were a short measure
• 80 per cent (8/10) of the vodka shots bought were a short measure

For a medium glass of wine, the deficiency was between 5ml and 25ml. The worst case of a 25ml deficiency on a 175ml glass of wine equates to being 14.3 per cent less than the prescribed quantity.

Of the eight vodka shots that were not the prescribed measure, six were well over 0.7ml short of what should have been a 25ml measure.

All pubs and bars were given verbal advice and guidance during the inspections and will be given follow-up advice in writing.

Two of the premises serving short measures were found to be measuring shots in ‘unstamped’ glasses which were illegal and were not passed as suitable for the measuring of alcohol. Those establishments were instructed to remove the equipment from use immediately.

Further checks on licensed premises will be carried out in the future.

The Trading Standards inspections show there is more work to be done to ensure that customers get what they pay for when they order a pint, or a glass of wine, in pubs, bars, and other establishments.

Councillor Jim Grant, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, said: “This is only a snapshot survey but, interestingly, the results mirrored those of a national study which also showed that consumers are not getting what they paid for.

“We want our local hospitality sector to thrive, but it should not be at the expense of their customers. It is incumbent on all our pubs, bars and social clubs to ensure people are not being short changed when they are spending their hard-earned money.

“Our Trading Standards team will continue to work with our licensed premises to ensure they are serving the correct measures as required by law.

“For anything that is short measured, you should ask the bar staff for an immediate top-up. You are well within your rights to do this, and the staff should comply and fulfil this request.

“If you get a negative reaction when you do this, you can get in contact with Trading Standards to report the incident.”