Unit labelling for Allied Domecq
Drinks company Allied Domecq is to add a sensible-drinking message and alcohol-unit labelling to all of its spirits and fortified wine brands sold in Britain by September. The new labels will reiterate the Government's daily-recommended number of units for men and women and carry the details of the Portman Group's drinkaware website. The new labels will make their debut on bottles of Teacher's Scotch whisky, Harveys Bristol Cream and Malibu later this month.
Host fined in TV football rights case
A licensee who tore up his satellite viewing card in front of magistrates last November has appeared in court again for broadcasting a foreign TV station Premiership soccer match in his pub. Host Steve Siterio was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £1,200 costs by South Western magistrates this week after he admitted showing another foreign broadcast at the Falcon Kitchen in Battersea, south London, during the closed Saturday afternoon period. Monday's conviction was the third satellite broadcasting case recorded against Siterio, who was also fined £500 for a similar offence in November.
Loud music costs licensee £8,500
A Suffolk licensee has been fined £8,500 for playing music so loud that it made shelves shake in a neighbouring house. Bury St Edmunds magistrates found Zoe Hearn, of the Cherry Tree in Debenham, guilty of breaching noise abatement legislation. Magistrates heard that environmental health officers visited a nearby home where music from the pub was causing shelves to vibrate.
Spirit launches drink-service training
Spirit Group has launched its Bar Experience training programme to improve standards of drink service across its estate. The one-day session is designed to educate its 2,000 managers on all aspects of serving, from the art of presentation and the "perfect serve", to tips on looking after and serving wine, and dealing with customer complaints. A mystery-shopper programme will be used to monitor effectiveness.
Union Pubco holds smoking forum
The Union Pub Company (UPC), Wolverhampton & Dudley's tenanted arm, has held a second smoking forum to help licensees respond positively to the Government's White Paper. Building on the success of the company's first forum last December, the event held at the Old Brown Jug in Newcastle-under-Lyme was organised to encourage licensees to get involved in the debate as a way of sharing information and working toward individual solutions.
