Is it illegal to sell [i]triple[/i] vodkas in a bars/clubs?

Is it illegal to sell [i]triple[/i] vodkas in a bars/clubs?

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Mr Sparkle

Original Poster:

1,921 posts

169 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
In a discussion at work yesterday I was informed that it is illegal to sell more than a double measure in any single glass, ie. if a customer was to order a triple vodka you are obliged to divide it between two glasses. Given that the people I work with are mostly stupid and often drunk themselves I called bullst on this. Was I correct in thinking that they had invented that rule themselves or is there indeed some unusual limit to the number of shots that can be pored into any one glass given that the alcoholic content can vary from 15 to 40% ABV.

I know it's a silly question but I have found nothing on Google.

ETA: We do sell mixers/pitchers of drink that contain more than 2 measures of spirit but these are intended for sharing.

Edited by Mr Sparkle on Wednesday 27th July 07:15

mrmr96

13,736 posts

203 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
I heard that too: that >2 was not legal to serve. But I didn't get that from any official source, so I'd be interested to hear the real legal position too, out of interest.

balders118

5,842 posts

167 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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When I was a student I bought £6 worth of apple sours in a pint glass. I think it was 4/5 shots. I have also defnately bought triples at clubs before. They may all have been breaking the law, but I doubt it. I'd imagne a lot of cocktails will have more than two shots worth in too.

marshalla

15,902 posts

200 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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ISTR some discussion of introducing local legislation to limit the amount of alcohol sold in one go - I think it was in Scotland though.

Nick3point2

3,917 posts

179 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Bought plenty of tripples and even quadruples for bets/dares over the years in a variety of establishments in a variety of areas of the country. It's probably a little White lie someone started to try to prevent anti social drinking.

I was once told it was illegal to serve a turbo shandy, where half a pint of lager is in a pint glass and a bottle of smirnoff ice is added: the bar owner said he couldn't legally sell that drink, which was clearly bullst, but was likely his way of backing up his rule against a drink that generally went hand and hand with thuggish behaviour.

Pferdestarke

7,179 posts

186 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
One boozy friend of mine regularly buys a 'Raging Bull' which is basically five shots of vodka and a can of imitation red bull, for £5, served in a pint pot over ice.


davevw

20 posts

168 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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On a night out in liquid one evening was told it was illegal for him to put 3 shots in one glass so had to put it in another glass and let me tip it in to another so he could top up with coke.

Cyder

7,045 posts

219 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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Nick3point2 said:
Bought plenty of tripples and even quadruples for bets/dares over the years in a variety of establishments in a variety of areas of the country. It's probably a little White lie someone started to try to prevent anti social drinking.

I was once told it was illegal to serve a turbo shandy, where half a pint of lager is in a pint glass and a bottle of smirnoff ice is added: the bar owner said he couldn't legally sell that drink, which was clearly bullst, but was likely his way of backing up his rule against a drink that generally went hand and hand with thuggish behaviour.
I think all alcoholic drink has to be sold in measures, so he could sell it if he poured the beer into a half pint glass first and then tipped into the pint glass after. I don't see any reason why you couldn't pour the Smirnoff Ice into the glass as well, but the customer would have to buy the whole bottle.

It was probably his way of trying to get out of pouring a pain in the arse drink, that, as you say is likely to be drunk by those who will end up in a ruck.

Disclaimer.
I have racked my memory from when I worked in the pub trade. I could be talking complete horlicks, but then what's new on this website. hehe

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Mr Sparkle said:
In a discussion at work yesterday I was informed that it is illegal to sell more than a double measure in any single glass, ie. if a customer was to order a triple vodka you are obliged to divide it between two glasses.
I think the reason you can't find anything is because it is a matter for the discretion of the licencee, not by any Act or Statutory Instrument.

Many pubs are owned by large corporates so the factor in play is likely to be their corporate social responsibilty guidelines. A tenant landlord is not going to bite the hand that feeds him/her.

Many SU bars have a policy of a complete ban on triple measures.

ikarl

3,730 posts

198 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Newcastle recently on a stag do (April this year) and pretty every pub served 'triples' and i think it worked out to less than double the price of a single?!?!

i.e. £3 for a single vodka with mixer but it was £5 for a triple!!

Scelto

619 posts

156 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Mr Sparkle said:
if a customer was to order a triple vodka you are obliged to divide it between two glasses.
I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on the internet, but I call absolute bullst on this. I often drink long cocktails with three or four shots of alcohol in them.

Even a Long Island Iced Tea has four shots in it.

jsg612

571 posts

167 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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A lot of places now are offering triples for the price of singles... So a triple vodka and coke for less than a fiver. Gets you wasted pretty rapidly, but I'm not a fan of the nasty taste myself. I assume it's legal because it's the larger 'bar chains' that are offering this.

toast boy

1,242 posts

225 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
ikarl said:
Newcastle recently on a stag do (April this year) and pretty every pub served 'triples' and i think it worked out to less than double the price of a single?!?!

i.e. £3 for a single vodka with mixer but it was £5 for a triple!!
Most bars in Newcastle (and certainly all of the ones in the Bigg Market/Quayside area) serve trebles. Usually dirt cheap too, there's one bar where you can get trebles for £2.50 I think, not too sure as it's definitely not the kind of place I'd frequent!

Edit: Just checked - £1.95 for trebles, plus extra for draught mixer!

AndrewTait

1,831 posts

193 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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I've been instrumental in many a stag night "Pint of spirits" challenge!

Can only recall one occasion where the attendee's of the stag do have each had to buy a shot, as they would not serve it to all one person, let alone in the same glass!

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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Thank god for holidays.

It may have been 10 euro for a Southern Comfort but at least they freepour.

jenpot

472 posts

186 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
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In Scotland, the issues are health protection, irresponsible drinking and so on.

It's not illegal to serve a triple, but if someone you served triples to was found ill or injured later, there could be a question of due diligence. It's the licencee coving themselves and their business, as they have to now.

Meoricin

2,880 posts

168 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Pub policy when I was at Uni was certainly that they would only serve more than two shots in one drink if it was a specific cocktail. They wouldn't do it just for increasing amounts. So one pub would happily offer 5 vodkas topped up with Red Bull in a pint glass, but they wouldn't sell you a triple whiskey. Likewise, the cocktail bar would only do it for you if you had a name for it.

KB_S1

5,967 posts

228 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
Well it has been over ten years since I ever ordered a triple shot but, a few weeks ago in Glasgow I ordered cocktails for the GF and I.
Each one had 3 measures of spirit and 1 of liqueur.

That was in a very nice bar.

jr502

487 posts

173 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
We used to have quad-vod and orange as the standard drink when I was at uni, in fact it was drunk by most people in the dive we went to. Never had any problems there (other than vomit etc!)

Pothole

34,367 posts

281 months

Wednesday 27th July 2011
quotequote all
might be a council attachment to their specific licence?