Drink impersonation

fi

what do people think about pubs buying in cheaper spirits and filling the bacardi and smirnoff bottles with it?

i was out at the weekend and 2 pubs were serving FAKE bacardai.

has any one else experienced this?

can anything be done, i have reported them to the consumer people they will get back to me in January....

but wondered what the opinion was out there.....

MagicMarker

I don't drink bacardi.. so i don't care.

MrJoeSoap

fi wrote: »

what do people think about pubs buying in cheaper spirits and filling the bacardi and smirnoff bottles with it?

i was out at the weekend and 2 pubs were serving FAKE bacardai.

Did you say it to them at the time? It's a pretty low thing to do on their behalf.

GerryRyan

fi wrote: »

what do people think about pubs buying in cheaper spirits and filling the bacardi and smirnoff bottles with it?

i was out at the weekend and 2 pubs were serving FAKE bacardai.

has any one else experienced this?

can anything be done, i have reported them to the consumer people they will get back to me in January....

but wondered what the opinion was out there.....

Certain pub/club in Newbridge has a habit of cutting corners like that (fake Vodka is only tip of the iceberg there). You'd think that, as a former barman there, I'd be honour bound not to share that

watered down coors and bulmers anyone?

Feckin cowboys

Rb

If you realise they're doing it, throw it back into their eyes. That'll learn 'em.

kieranmcg1

I think pub owners just get money hungry its not like they arent already making a fortune when they are selling the real stuf like. If u buy in an offie and compare that to the pub price , amount u get ya can see straight away that if they say "water it down" they are gona make even more money .

jameshayes

Friend of mine always gets cheap vodka in pubs out of smirnoff bottels.

I'm sure Bacardi/Smirnoff would have something to say about it too

Black Swan

Have a friend that is concerned about his drinks being watered down, so he orders the shot with a soda back.

padi89

Id report them for definite.Having said that i dont know many people that order vodka by brand.

Dr Strange

You might get them for fraud. It's surely fraudulent and deceiving if you sell something of a certain brand which then turns out to be a cheaper version of the drink from another or even no-name brand.

L1011

99 times out of a hundred, the punter won't notice, as its being used with mixer(s)... my local seems to be sound enough about it, they use Huzzar in optics when someone asks for "a vodka", and have a bottle of Smirnoff for anyone that asks for it directly (or regulars, usually...), and I've seen them open a new one and put the spigot in, so...

Jeapy

I used to drink vodka but dont anymore, partly beacause of this...
I was in a pub about 2 years ago and got a vodka with a dash of white lemonade. The lemonade ran out, so the dash was about half the amount Id normally have put in. It was my first drink of the evening and couldnt taste any alcohol in it. I said it to the bar woman who seemed a bit embarrassed, said she was sorry and mustnt have put any vodka in (I saw her push the optic and put it in). She then went and opened a NEW bottle of vodka from the store- even though there was a resonably full bottle still on the shelf. Second drink was perfect. :rolleyes:

fi

i actually sent the first drink back as it was like clear whiskey, really sharp and horrible, you guess i dont like whiskey.

I said it to the bar man and he said sorry threw it out and went to get me another drink, i watched him pour it out of the regular bacardai bottle, i tasted it and again it was poo, so i said it and i was told there is nothing wrong with it, as it was my first xmas party with this new company i didnt want to make a scene so didnt take it further. but when we went to the second club i was mad, so i spoke to a barman i know and he said ah yes you buy the polish vodka and bacardai and cyphen it into the normal bottles.

to "that guy" can anything be done to stop this? or prove it... i hope something is done...

i used to drink Smirnoff but stopped as they were putting huzzar into the smirnoff bottles...... i gave up..... i will jsut cry if they spoil bacardai the same wy

arybvtcw0eolkf

fi wrote: »

what do people think about pubs buying in cheaper spirits and filling the bacardi and smirnoff bottles with it?

i was out at the weekend and 2 pubs were serving FAKE bacardai.

has any one else experienced this?

can anything be done, i have reported them to the consumer people they will get back to me in January....

but wondered what the opinion was out there.....

How do you know it was fake Bicardi?.

Was it because it was spelt 'Bicardai' by any chance?.

AlmightyCushion

Mairt wrote: »

How do you know it was fake Bicardi?.

Was it because it was spelt 'Bicardai' by any chance?.

It's actually spelt Bacardi. If you're going to make fun of someones spelling then you had better make sure yours is perfect.

arybvtcw0eolkf

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

It's actually spelt Bacardi. If you're going to make fun of someones spelling then you had better make sure yours is perfect.

LOL, swine. And I can't even go back and edit it now :mad:

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH...

(must check own spelling in future)

But seriously I wonder how the OP knew it was faked?.

I'm curious because I wouldn't have a clue myself.

ojewriej

Mairt wrote: »

LOL, swine. And I can't even go back and edit it now :mad:

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH...

(must check own spelling in future)

But seriously I wonder how the OP knew it was faked?.

I'm curious because I wouldn't have a clue myself.

I can spot different types of vodka no problem. Smirnoff is very easy actually, even by smell. I recognise most popular whiskies as well. Wouldn't have a clue about rum now, but i'd imagine it's like with everything, if you drink enough you know your stuff.. Of course drinking it straight helps.

As for the original question, it's a robbery, plain and simple. It's like you've paid a mercedes and getting a fiat with a mercedes star on it.

AlmightyCushion

Mairt wrote: »

LOL, swine. And I can't even go back and edit it now :mad:

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH...

(must check own spelling in future)

But seriously I wonder how the OP knew it was faked?.

I'm curious because I wouldn't have a clue myself.

If you drink enough of a certain drink, I'm sure you could taste the difference between different brands.

Malteaser!

I'm so clueless, I'd have no idea if soembody gave me a 'fake' drink or not!!

ojewriej

I generally try not to order spirits in pubs. Bad value aside, you really don't know what you are getting. Putting cheaper brand is one thing, but some of them would serve any sh1t they can get their hands on. You'd b surprised how many of hangovers are due to the contamination of the drink rather than to the amount drunk.

Mossin

ojewriej wrote: »

I can spot different types of vodka no problem. Smirnoff is very easy actually, even by smell. I recognise most popular whiskies as well. Wouldn't have a clue about rum now, but i'd imagine it's like with everything, if you drink enough you know your stuff.. Of course drinking it straight helps.

As for the original question, it's a robbery, plain and simple. It's like you've paid a mercedes and getting a fiat with a mercedes star on it.

Bacardi is a rum!!
Or am I to assume that you mean dark rums??

It doesn't happen as often as you would think. I've worked in loads of hotels, bars and restaurants, and only one place put in a cheaper brand, but it usually just displayed it.

fi

I know i am going to regret this but why do people refer to me as OP

is that opening poster? or Old Person? or something i dont want to know!!!!!:eek:

ojewriej

Mossin wrote: »

Bacardi is a rum!!
Or am I to assume that you mean dark rums??

It doesn't happen as often as you would think. I've worked in loads of hotels, bars and restaurants, and only one place put in a cheaper brand, but it usually just displayed it.

I know Bacardi is a rum. That's why I wrote that I wouldn't have a clue about rum.

muboop1

fi wrote: »

what do people think about pubs buying in cheaper spirits and filling the bacardi and smirnoff bottles with it?

i was out at the weekend and 2 pubs were serving FAKE bacardai.

has any one else experienced this?

can anything be done, i have reported them to the consumer people they will get back to me in January....

but wondered what the opinion was out there.....

i get why, but its totaly illegal, i get they want a bigger profit cut, but im sure if they just displayed the cheap stuff nobody would even care!!

i worked in a pub for years, and honestly, anybody asked for a vodka, they usualy just said vodka, rarely a smirnoff! so if they got the cheap stuff, fair enough! no complaints,

i realise with bacardi when u ask for it u are essentially asking for the brand, this is illegal and wrong...

SUNGOD

happened to me in spain when i asked for smirnoff to avoid confusion i still got some kind of paint stripper. naturally enough i wasnt impressed and expressed this to the barman, then two dodgey looking moorocian's came out of nowhere shouting, pushing me and waving their hands accuseing me of trying to get drinks for free by lieing. so like a good sunday world reporter i made my excuses and left.

im_invisible

MYOB wrote: »

...spigot

thats one i never heard before...

DundalkDuffman

fi wrote: »

I know i am going to regret this but why do people refer to me as OP

is that opening poster? or Old Person? or something i dont want to know!!!!!:eek:

I have always understood it as original poster but have never had the nads to ask, lest I would be wrong. So thanks I think

Agamemnon

You're right, DundalkDuffman, it's Original Poster - the person who started the thread.

If I'm drinking vodka, I'll always ask for Smirnoff and watch them as they pour it. Problem is, vodka mixes well with anything and by the time most people are on spirits, they're too banjaxed to know what they're drinking. These days I usually ask for straight Jameson - it's hard to fake that.

Cianos

I'm suprised at how many people have experienced this. It's so bad considering how much it is for a drink in Ireland anyway. Not to mention it's mass-theft.

Name and shame that's what I say.

And on a related note, how often do you actually get a pint in a city centre bar or club and think 'that's a nice pint'? The majority don't taste great and quite a few taste awful.

We're supposed to be a nation of drinkers yet we're putting up with this crap?

fi

I have no problem naming the 2 pubs, but i would be afraid i would get into trouble or sued for what ever... we are getting a bit like america in that regard.
bus yes i think people should name and shame

rubadub

smirnoff & bacardi are not that great to begin with. And spirits are an absolute rip off in a pub anyway. A measure has only about a half pints worth of alcohol in it.

I would say a fair bit of keg switching goes on too. They might have 2 heineken kegs inhouse, one with a bavaria hooked up. Wait and see if the customer is pissed and then pick which to pour from.

baztard

Pubs have been prosecuted in the past for selling cheap vodka in Smirnoff bottles. Theres a special ingredient that only appears in Smirnoff that can be tested for. I remember a pub on Parnell St. in Dublin got done for selling fake vodka a few years back. If you make a complaint to the correct government body (I don't know what its called), they will investigate by testing the spirits in the pub.

xzanti

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Have a friend that is concerned about his drinks being watered down, so he orders the shot with a soda back.

What difference is that going to make though? The Vodka will already be watered down in the bottle

ScumLord

If you ask for vodka they can just give you any ol vodka, there's nothing wrong with that. But displaying Smirnoff bottles with a cheaper brand in them is just false advertising.

azezil

I've never really noticed the vodka being watered down here in Ireland, but on a recent trip to the England, their vodka was like water! I got a vodka and dash of orange, sent it back saying there's no vodka in this!? so he gives me a double, I still can't taste it! so he hands me vodka straight up, it was feckin watered down! It was very very disappointing, especially considering they get smaller shots to begin with! :rolleyes:

baztard

emigrant.ie March 2003 wrote:

Publican fined selling illicit spirits as Smirnoff

Eugene Carolan, the former licensee of the Shakespeare pub in Dublin's Parnell Street, is the latest publican to appear in court for selling illicit spirits from Smirnoff vodka bottles. He got away with a €700 fine.

http://www.emigrant.ie/files/indexfile.asp?id=79#13898

It was The Shakespeare on Parnell St. that got done for selling fake vodka back in 2003.

fi

It was hard to find who to report this to, so i found a consumer people, who said they would investigate it. if nayone knows of anything else i can do please let me know.

Donegal Lass

fi wrote: »

what do people think about pubs buying in cheaper spirits and filling the bacardi and smirnoff bottles with it?

i was out at the weekend and 2 pubs were serving FAKE bacardai.

has any one else experienced this?

can anything be done, i have reported them to the consumer people they will get back to me in January....

but wondered what the opinion was out there.....

Happened to me more than once. In the end up i got fed up and said to the barman about it... he insisted it was actually smirnoff, so i just said "fine, can you please open a fresh bottle in front of me then, its a busy bar, you'll need to open a new one soon anyways".. He had to go out the back of the store to do this despite the fact that there were 2 bottles of 'unopened' smirnoff sitting on the counter beside the till! :rolleyes:

you're supposed to get what you pay for, never be afraid to ask for proof if you're sure you're being served a dodgy spirit!

I only stick to bottles. The way I see it is theres less of a chance to them being watered down.

Donegal Lass

Deleted User wrote: »

I only stick to bottles. The way I see it is theres less of a chance to them being watered down.

Ive witnesses barowners recapping bottles they found full on tables and reselling them. :mad: not cool!

ScumLord

This the great thing about a small town they'd never dare water down or substitute.

AngryBadger

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Have a friend that is concerned about his drinks being watered down, so he orders the shot with a soda back.

What difference does that make?

cjt156

I worked the bar trade for about 10 years. I've seen cheap spirits sold as brand-named stuff, dodgy kegs hooked up to premium taps and slops poured back into kegs.
Thats why I would only buy a pint from a bar I know and trust; bottles all the way. I rarely buy shorts.

The Real B-man

Thats why i dont drink pints in Nightclubs or Drink Spirits Bottles are better tbh but its sick that this happens i mean theres a certain nightclub in Bray that serves "Cloudy" pints of Bulmers:rolleyes:

monkey tennis

fi wrote: »

i watched him pour it out of the regular bacardai bottle, i tasted it and again it was poo

Well, that's Bacardi for you.

Ruskie4Rent

cjt156 wrote: »

.... and slops poured back into kegs.

Is that even possible?

celt262

That Boru vodka is popular in pubs around my way and it is one sure way to get a hangover. Id say it is being sold off as Smirnoff is some places aswell.

daveharnett

Call shenanigins and grab your broom...

remus808

celt262 wrote: »

That Boru vodka is popular in pubs around my way and it is one sure way to get a hangover. Id say it is being sold off as Smirnoff is some places aswell.

Boru vodka is the same price if not more expensive than Smirnoff so not likely really..