Free pourers that haven't been dried and high-intensity back-bar lighting could mean licensees are unwittingly serving weakened spirits and putting themselves at risk of prosecution.
Licensing solicitors Poppleston Allen has issued a stark warning that it is not just deliberate acts of watering down that can lead to fines of up to £20,000.
"The washing of free pourers and their replacement whilstwet is a potential hazard," said solicitor Graeme Cushion. "Free pourers need to be washed and dried to avoid the introduction of water to the spirit and the subsequent reduction in abv. This problem can be magnified in the spirits that are less frequently used."
Problems can also occur in spirits exposed to temperature fluctuations, which can lead to alcohol evaporation. "In a practical case, many licensees who have a strongly-lit back bar may be committing a crime without even realising it," said Cushion.
Poppleston Allen recommends staff are properly trained in how to store spirits and that random tests are carried out. Food labelling regulations allow for a 0.3% deviation from the stated abv.