Trading Standards to ramp-up premium spirit checks
Over 2% of pub licensees are still ripping off customers by passing off cheap spirits as premium brands.
The International Federation of Spirits Producers (IFSP) said 2% of pubs and 10% of restaurants had still not got the message and there would be an increase in visits from Trading Standards in 2008.
The IFSP said there was an increase in the number of incidents of passing-off spirits in January and February.
"Branded spirits substitution with cheaper and sometimes illegal spirits is not as widespread as it used to be but it is still at unacceptable levels," said IFSP director Philip Scatchard.
"Currently the licensees of 2% of pubs and over 10% of independent restaurants are illegally substituting brands gaining an unfair competitive advantage and ripping off customers."
He added that the authenticity of Bacardi, Gordon's and Smirnoff can easily be checked by enforcement officers using a simple dip stick test and they are now also using a whisky authenticator.
The warning of increased visits comes as two Blackpool licensees were fined for passing-off cheap spirits as premium brands.
The joint owners of McHalls Hotel in Lord Street were fined £840 and the licensees of the Fourways Hotel were also fined £754 by Blackpool magistrates.
Scatchard added: "These fines, although lower than average for this offence, should help remind the minority of licensees that they are increasingly unlikely to get away with conning their customers."
