Pub fined thousands for tipping

A pub has become the first on the Isle of Wight to be fined for spirit tipping.

At court today the owners of the Countryman in Brighstone were fined a total of almost £6,500 after pleading guilty to six charges relating to the sale of alcohol.

Russell O'Keefe, the managing director of Country Catering Limited, which owns the Countryman, admitted the pub sold white rum and vodka wrongly described as Bacardi and Smirnoff.

Isle of Wight Council director of environment and neighbourhoods Stuart Love said: "Hopefully this sends out the message that the council takes issues such as these seriously.

"The false selling of alcohol is not only illegal, but potentially a health and safety hazard, as customers buying the products are not receiving the genuine article which could put the customer at risk."

The six charges included two relating to selling falsely described alcohol, and a further four charges for failing to provide information about who supplied the suspect alcohol to the pub.