Boozers sell us short - survey

One in five Midlands boozers is selling short measures of spirits, a shocking survey has revealed.

A blitz by trading standards officers uncovered eight out of 43 pubs tested selling shorts of gin, whisky, rum and vodka which were at least 10 per cent under.

And the boss of one Dudley pub will be hauled before judges later this month, accused of serving a 25ml measure of Lambs Navy rum which was a quarter short of the proper measure.

The licensee of Maya Bar, at the Waterfront, Brierley Hill, will appear at Dudley Magistrates on January 25.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley's cabinet member for the environment, said: "These results are very disappointing.

"Across the Midlands almost one fifth of the samples taken were more than 10 per cent short.

"I would urge bars and pubs in Dudley to ensure that people are getting a fair deal by ensuring staff are trained properly.

"Trading standards can offer local businesses free advice and support to help them avoid such pitfalls."

Joint owner at Maya Bar, Dean Cartwright, said the bar would plead guilty to the offence but said the short measure served to undercover trading standards officers was a "stupid mistake" and a "one off".

"The girl who did it had been with us a very short time and it was just her fourth shift," he said.

"She felt so bad about it all that she handed her notice in the same week. In our eight years trading we have been tested for spirit measures numerous times and passed with flying colours. We've always had an excellent rapport with police."

Two other bars in Dudley were visited as part of the survey carried out by the Central England Trading Standards Association's metrology group.

One was found to be serving correct measures but the other pub sold a short that was 12 per cent under. Trading standards chiefs said other premises across the region may also

face prosecution for offences under The Weights and Measures Act 1985.

by Richard Williams