Trading Standards launch ‘Fair Measure Fortnight’

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Renfrewshire Council's Trading Standards service are taking part in a nationwide drive to ensure a fair deal for licensed trade customers. They are joining trading standards teams across Scotland during "Fair Measure Fortnight" to make sure that people ordering spirits in pubs, hotels and restaurants don't get short measures.

In Renfrewshire, the project will involve test purchases made between 7 and 18 August, and advice given to businesses where appropriate with the sanction of potential prosecution in cases of substantial short measure. The object of the exercise is to protect consumers and maintain the accuracy of spirit measures sold to the public.

Bert Wilson, the Council's Head of Regulatory Services said, “the sale of alcohol by a legal measure is a traditional element of trading standards work. It is against the law for any licensed premises to provide quantities less than stated on the notice, which they must display by the bar area. Results of the project will be known by the end of the summer and any instances of substantial deficiencies may result in the seller being reported to the Procurator Fiscal.”

Councillor John McDowell, Convener of Renfrewshire's Licensing Board added, "It's in everyone’s interest that accurate measures are sold throughout Renfrewshire especially over the summer holiday period when there are so many visitors to Renfrewshire’s pubs, hotels and restaurants.”

Press release: Monday 7 August 2006