Crime
Pub fined £3,500 for serving 'fake gin'
Officers from East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s food standards team visited the New Inn, Bridlington, in July last year to carry out routine spot checks.
Samples were taken from the site’s Gordon’s stock and the results confirmed the spirit being sold was not genuine Gordon’s, produced for sale in Europe or the UK.
Neglect of duties
Beverley Magistrates Court heard that after further investigation, it was revealed that the pub manager Kevin Rolls had bought stock without any record from who or where it came from, neglecting his duties about traceability requirements under regulations.
On Wednesday 14 September, Rolls and company director Gavin Geraghty of New Inn (Bridlington) Ltd, appeared before the court and pleaded guilty to breaching food safety regulations.
The company was fined £1,000 and made to pay prosecution costs of £950 along with a victim surcharge of £100.
Rolls was fined £400 and ordered to pay court costs of £950 along with a £40 victim surcharge.
Fraudulent claims
Food services manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council Andrew Buxton said: “The council takes its duty to protect the health of consumers very seriously and is also keen to prevent misleading and fraudulent claims being made to the detriment of legitimate businesses.
“It is important that the owners of food businesses understand that food service officers will not shy away from taking formal action where necessary and appropriate.
“As in this case, this may include prosecution of both those involved in the day-to-day management of the business and business owners, be they individuals, partnerships or a company.”
Serving spirits is often a hot topic. Earlier this year, a pub in North Yorkshire landed itself in court and was fined after serving short measures.