Watered down Vodka in well known Dub City Centre pub

Santa Claus wrote: »

Rather than the LVA you'd be better contacting the 'weights and measures' section of Dublin corpo who will check it out !

Highsider wrote: »

Unfortunatly this is becoming a more common pratice within the bar trade as hard pressed publicans try to keep their business afloat.

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

No naming and shaming here as it's not proven.

The Purty Kitchen

16 April 2008

COMPLAINANT
Member of the public

COMPLAINT SUMMARY

The complainant has alleged that the drinks promotion undertaken at The Purty Kitchen on the 28 November, 2007 encouraged illegal or irresponsible drinking. The complainant has stated that the promotion claimed to sell and make available the following:

€2 drinks
Double Vodka and red bull for €5.50
Mulled wine and Santa helpers with vodka supersoakers
COMPANY

The Purty Kitchen,
34/35 East Essex Street,
Temple Bar
Dublin 2

DECISION

Under Code paragraph 3.2 (f): Upheld.

The Panel noted MEAS Code paragraph 3.2 (f) which states

“3.2 A drink, its packaging and any promotional material or activity (as defined in section 2 Annex 1) must not in any direct or indirect way:

(f) encourage illegal, irresponsible or immoderate consumption, such as binge-drinking, drunkenness or drink-driving;”

The Panel also noted the MEAS Guidance Notes on Point of Sale Promotions and Materials and Serving of Multiple Drinks state that

“….promotions… identified and agreed to be those that should not be run as they are either unlawful, or entail a disproportionate risk that they will lead directly to alcohol misuse and anti-social behaviour” include

“Drinking Games - these tend to encourage either rapid drinking or the drinking of large quantities of alcohol and therefore should not be run” and

“Promotions that involve free drinks or reduced price drinks for a limited period of a day.”

The Panel reviewed correspondence received from The Purty Kitchen represenetative and a copy of a poster promoting the “Ents Christmas Party” on the 28 November, 2007.

The Panel reviewed the poster advertising The Purty Kitchen “Ents Christmas Party”. The poster included a picture of a girl in a black dress and Santa hat, standing with her arm around Santa Claus who is smoking a cigarette. Towards the bottom of the poster the words “Mulled wine, Santa’s helpers with vodka supersoakers! €2 drinks! double vodka red bull €5.50” are printed.

The Panel noted the points made by The Purty Kitchen representative – “that the double vodka and red bull offer was run using a vodka substitute named Vodkova. It has a similar taste but far lower alcohol content than actual vodka”; that the €2 drinks were on one drink brand only as a form of sponsorship, and not on a variety of products or brands; that the Santa helpers with supersoakers used on the night were provided by the organisers of the event; and that The Purty Kitchen did not provide alcohol for this use and were not responsible as the event was run by an outside promoter.

The Panel reviewed the advertisement as it related to the double vodka and red bull promotion. They considered the point made regarding the substitution of Vodkova for vodka, and concluded that customers would make decisions on the basis of the actual advertisement. The advertisement stated, for example, that vodka as opposed to Vodkova would be used; this misrepresentation would lead customers to believe they would be purchasing standard vodka.

The Panel noted that a supersoaker was a water pistol in the shape of a machine gun and was filled with vodka, which would be squirted from the gun into the mouths of patrons. The Panel concluded that this was a drinking game which clearly fell within the category of irresponsible promotions identified in the MEAS Guidance Notes on Point of Sale Promotions and Materials and Serving of Multiple Drinks.

The Panel discussed the sale of double vodka and red bull for €5.50 and concluded that this element of the promotion, consisting of multiple servings of alcohol was likely, in combination with the other elements of the promotion advertised, to encourage excessive drinking

The Panel noted the statement from the The Purty Kitchen representative that the event was not run by The Purty Kitchen but was run by an outside promoter.

The Panel noted that the licensee, The Purty Kitchen, has the ability to impose conditions on any third party it rents its premises or part thereof to, or permits to organise and promote an event on its premises.

The Panel noted that the license holder is the party required to adhere to the Liquor Licensing Laws and retains that responsibility, irrespective of any arrangements involving third parties on or in relation to the premises for which the license is granted. While the MEAS Code is a voluntary code the Panel considered it reasonable that the same standard of responsibility should prevail as applies to the licensee under the Liquor Licensing laws.

The Panel concluded that the promotion considered in the paragraphs above clearly fell within the category of promotions identified in the MEAS Guidance Notes and agreed to be those that should not be run as ‘they entail a disproportionate risk that they will lead directly to alcohol misuse and anti-social behaviour’. The promotion therefore breached Code paragraph 3.2 (f).

rubadub wrote: »

. http://www.meas.ie/page.php?intPageID=508

Solitaryman666 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.