Bars warned over short measures

Licensees are being urged to make sure they measure up

Pubs, restaurants and hotels throughout Scotland are being checked to ensure they are not giving customers short measures.

Trading Standards officers will be visiting licensed premises during the Fair Measure Fortnight campaign.

Last year, almost half the drinks tested were found to be short.

The national test purchasing survey will concentrate on measures of spirits, such as whisky, gin, vodka and rum, and on wine.

In a similar project in 2006, officers tested a total of 343 alcoholic drinks.

A total of 155 - 45% - were found to be of short measure.

It is important that customers get the full amount that they are paying for Dave Roderick Trading Standards

Dave Roderick, vice-chairman of the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland, said an equal amount were over measure, with only 10% of the drinks being served correctly.

"That shows a lack of training and a lack of consistency in bar staff and the practices they use," he said.

"I think most of it is accidental. No doubt there are probably one or two places that will try and deliberately short measure.

"A lot of it is just carelessness in the use of the equipment."

Mr Roderick said the majority of licensees were responsible people who took the effort to train their staff properly.

Full view

"They should not be put at a disadvantage by those who don't really bother," he said.

"Equally, it is important that customers get the full amount that they are paying for."

The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland has urged licensees to ensure that their staff are properly trained and know the correct quantities of wines and spirits to be served.

They have also been asked to ensure that where possible any measurement is conducted in full view of the customer.