South Ayrshire Council’s Trading Standards Service has received an award from the International Federation of Spirit Producers (the IFSP) in recognition of the work it has carried out to ensure unscrupulous bar staff or owners don’t dupe the public with substituted spirits.

Phil Scatchard from the IFSP said, “Following a number of prosecutions by Trading Standards and name and shame articles in local newspapers across the UK the number of offending premises has been reduced from 1 in 12 outlets, or 8%, to 1 in 28 outlets or 3.5%. This saves consumers over £20 million every year. By giving this award, along with a financial contribution for professional development, we recognise the good work that local authorities such as South Ayrshire carry out in protecting consumers and reputable businesses alike.”

A spokesman for Trading Standards said, “Our Officers are equipped with special ‘substitution sticks’ that can give an immediate indication as to whether the correct brand is being served. If this throws up any doubt we take formal samples for analysis. We have taken a number of samples in the past year and have reported several people to the Procurator Fiscal. Last year an Ayr publican was reported concerning allegations over gin and whisky and a 27-year-old man was fined a total of four hundred pounds at Ayr Sheriff Court for Trade Descriptions offences after he pled guilty to selling substituted gin at a pub in Mossblown.”

Convener of South Ayrshire’s Community Safety Committee, Councillor Hugh Hunter added, “In the vast majority of cases the licensed trade in South Ayrshire operates to the highest standards and it is in their interests that we take firm action against the few unscrupulous people that flout the law. We offer free training in Trading Standards law and best practice to bar staff to help avoid problems like short measure, brand substitution and overpricing. I am delighted that the often unnoticed work carried out by Council officers on the community’s behalf has been recognised in this way.”

The spokesman ended, “Apart from our sampling visits we rely on complaints from members of the public and indeed both the cases reported to the PF came to our attention as a result of information received. If anyone has any suspicions about drinks in this respect they should contact us at 5/7 River Terrace, Ayr, by telephone on 01292 616060 or e-mail us at cabac@south-ayrshire.gov.uk or through the Web site: www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards”.

July 2006