Drink impersonation

fi · 19-12-2007 07:04PM #1

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 · 19-12-2007 07:06PM

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

MrJoeSoap · 19-12-2007 07:06PM

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 · 19-12-2007 07:08PM

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 · 19-12-2007 07:09PM

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

kieranmcg1 · 19-12-2007 07:09PM

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 · 19-12-2007 07:10PM

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

19-12-2007 07:12PM

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

padi89 · 19-12-2007 07:13PM

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

Dr Strange · 19-12-2007 07:15PM

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 · 19-12-2007 07:38PM

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 · 19-12-2007 07:46PM

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 · 19-12-2007 07:47PM

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 · 19-12-2007 07:57PM

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 · 19-12-2007 07:59PM

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 · 19-12-2007 08:01PM

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 · 19-12-2007 08:09PM

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 · 19-12-2007 08:12PM

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! · 19-12-2007 08:40PM

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

ojewriej · 19-12-2007 08:47PM

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 · 19-12-2007 10:54PM

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 · 19-12-2007 11:18PM

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 · 19-12-2007 11:19PM

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 · 19-12-2007 11:56PM

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 · 20-12-2007 12:12AM

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 · 20-12-2007 02:29AM

MYOB wrote: »

...spigot

thats one i never heard before...

DundalkDuffman · 20-12-2007 02:32AM

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 · 20-12-2007 03:14AM

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 · 20-12-2007 03:24AM

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 · 20-12-2007 12:32PM

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 · 20-12-2007 12:41PM

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.

Drink impersonation

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