WInTer 2016 ToP TIPS FoR PuBLICAnS The pub landlords checklist for a cracking Christmas Make sure you dont have to call time on the festivities by staying on top of these potential problems 1. Illicit alcohol It is illegal in the uK to distil and sell alcohol to the public without a licence from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Illicit alcohol produced in unlicensed distilleries or peoples homes, and intended for sale costs the country around 1.2bn per year. But its not simply a matter of false bargains; much of the fake booze contains potentially dangerous chemicals, so counterfeit spirits and wine could be lethal. Properly produced and certified alcoholic drinks are made with ethanol, which is safe to drink in moderation. However, fake alcoholic drinks can be produced using other, cheaper types of alcohol which can have serious adverse effects on peoples health. Commonly used substitutes for ethanol include chemicals used in cleaning fluids, nail-polish remover and vehicle screen wash, as well as methanol and isopropanol, which are used in antifreeze and some fuels. These chemicals can produce similar effects to ethanol in terms of making drinkers feel tipsy, but they are also potentially dangerous. Look out for fake versions of wellknown brands and be wary of unusual brand names that you havent seen before Consuming drinks that contain these alcohols can cause nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, drowsiness and dizziness, and can lead to kidney or liver problems even coma. Methanol, a substance used in fake vodka, may cause permanent blindness. To help you spot and avoid fake alcohol, remember the four Ps: place, price, packaging and product. Place: Make sure you buy your alcohol from a reputable supplier. Price: If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Packaging: Look out for: l Poor-quality labelling, including things such as spelling mistakes l uK duty stamp. Spirits in bottles 35cl or larger and that are 30% alcohol by volume (ABV) or higher have to have a duty stamp, which indicates that tax has been paid or is due to be paid on the contents. The stamp is usually incorporated into the label or stuck on the glass. If its not there, the alcohol is illegal l Properly sealed caps. If the seal is broken, do not consider buying it: even if its not illegal, it could have been tampered with l Fake barcodes. If you have a barcode scanner app on your mobile phone, use it to check if the alcohol is listed as the correct product Product: Look out for fake versions of well-known brands and be wary of unusual brand names that you havent seen before. Vodka the most commonly counterfeited spirit shouldnt have any white particles or sediment in the bottle. If you see this, the vodka could have been diluted with tap water. If any alcohol tastes or smells bad, dont drink it. Particularly look out for the smell of nail varnish. to report illicit alcohol, call the hotline anonymously on 0300 303 2636 2. Age-restricted sales It is hugely important that age-restricted products are not sold to children, and there are several pieces of legislation aimed at preventing the sale of such products to those who are too young to buy them. These laws are necessary to prevent young people from harming themselves, behaving anti-socially, and becoming a nuisance to those around them. Trading standards routinely carries out operations in premises that sell agerestricted products, using underage volunteers who attempt to buy a specific agerestricted product. If a sale is made, the item is taken as evidence for any potential prosecution against the shop owner and the seller Find out more about Challenge 25. 3. Illicit tobacco up to 2bn is lost to the Exchequer each year because of people buying cheap, fake tobacco, which is made in unregulated factories all over the world. Although all tobacco is harmful, illegal cigarettes pose a more serious risk to health because there is often no control over their content or quality. Fake cigarettes have been found to contain many dangerous chemicals, dust, asbestos and high tar levels. The illegal trade in tobacco has strong links to organised crime, and illicit tobacco has a devastating effect on health. These products are widely available at low cost and this undermines efforts to discourage smoking through higher pricing of legitimate tobacco. Smuggled cigarettes can put legitimate retailers under pressure to be less compliant with tobaccocontrol legislation than they would be in the absence of black-market competition The illicit tobacco market undermines measures to limit youth access to tobacco, because it is much less likely that vendors of smuggled cigarettes will comply with legislation prohibiting the sale of tobacco to underage people. to report the sale Smuggled cigarettes can also put legitimate retailers of illicit tobacco, under pressure to be less compliant with tobacco-control legislation call the hotline than they would be in the absence of black-market competition. anonymously on 0300 303 2636 Counterfeit and fabricated brands are manufactured with no quality control, and the sale of illicit tobacco with foreign labelling breaches public health laws requiring pictorial and English health warnings. 4). fire safety Christmas is a special time of celebration and should not end in tragedy because of the presence of extra potential hazards such as trees, fairy lights and decorations. For tips and information about fire safety over the festive season click here. 5). licensing A premises licence is required anywhere that offers licensable activities, and the four objectives of this are: l The prevention of crime and disorder l Public safety l The prevention of public nuisance l The protection of children from harm To promote these, a licence holder must: l not allow drunk and disorderly behaviour on their premises l Remain vigilant in preventing the use and sale of illegal drugs at the retail area l Ensure there is no violent and anti-social behaviour l Ensure there is no harm to children l display a clear and legible notice, outside the premises, indicating the normal hours under the terms of the premises licence during which licensable activities are permitted l Check the CCTV system is working properly and ensure there is sufficient storage capacity l display clear and conspicuous notices warning of potential criminal activity, such as theft, that may affect customers l not sell alcohol to drunk or intoxicated customers l Ensure internal and external lighting is fixed, to promote public safety l Have well-trained staff who adhere to the requirements Prominent, clear and legible notices must also be displayed at the exits, asking patrons to respect nearby residents and leave the area quietly. Customers should also be asked not to stand around talking loudly in the street outside the premises. Staff who arrive early in the morning or leave late at night when the business is not trading should avoid causing disturbance to local residents. Likewise, deliveries of goods must be carried out at a time or in a manner that prevents nuisance. Adequate waste bins for customers use must be provided and, to reduce noise outside the premises, the movement of bins and rubbish must be kept to a minimum after 11pm. Lighting on or outside the premises must also be positioned and screened in such a way that it does not disturb nearby residents. 6). Serving a full pint Credits:Tony Shore Images: froe_mic / Maxx-Studio / Blanscape / BalancePhoto Customer satisfaction is key to business growth so keep your customers happy by making sure the measures you serve are up to the mark. A recent survey in the West Midlands revealed that 90 per cent of draught beer checked by trading standards was short measure. dont embarrass your customers by making them ask for a top-up each time they For further information please contact your local Trading Standards Service