No Substitute for Stratford upon Avon Pubs!
Restaurants & public houses in Stratford upon Avon and Henley in Arden have been given a thumb’s up by Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service after their tests found no evidence of spirits substitution.
In March 2008 Trading Standards Officers visited 14 licensed premises in Stratford upon Avon (chosen at random) and sampled a variety of spirits available for sale. Officers were looking to see if any branded (and therefore more expensive) spirits had been substituted for cheaper alternatives.
This follows on from a visit to seven licensed premises in Henley in Arden in August 2007.
Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection said:
“Dispensing cheaper spirits from premium branded spirit bottles rips off consumers and gives the unscrupulous licensee an unfair advantage over his competitors. The cost of a ‘branded double’ as opposed to a ‘house double’ can be as much a £1.
I am delighted that Stratford upon Avon licensees are taking their responsibilities seriously and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them.”
In March, Trading Standards Officers visited 126 premises across Warwickshire and carried out 758 spirit checks.
Four licensed premises, located in Leamington Spa, Rugby, Nuneaton and Coleshill are presently under investigation.
A similar exercise was carried out in August 2007 during which 64 outlets were visited leading to one prosecution of a Rugby public house.
Any member of the public who suspects substitution of spirits is taking place should contact Gill Kelly on 01926 414053.
For more information visit our website:
http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards