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Issued By |
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Issued By |
Arthur
William Potts, age 64, the licencee of the Shoulder of Mutton, Brampton and
Wilma Armstrong, age 55, a barmaid at the pub for over 30 years, were today
(Monday 21 October) found Guilty by Carlisle Magistrates of spirit substitution.
Both had pleaded Not Guilty.
Following
an anonymous tipoff, Trading Standards Officers visited the pub and took samples
of Gordons Gin and Smirnoff Vodka from bottles displayed on the bar.
Results of analysis from the Public Analyst indicated that neither the
gin was Gordons nor the vodka Smirnoff.
Potts was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs; Armstrong was
given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £500 costs.
The charges were brought under the Food Safety Act 1990 by Cumbria County
Council’s Trading Standards Department.
This
is the fourth prosecution in the last five weeks of publicans in the County
passing off cheaper substitute spirits as more famous brands.
Phil
Ashcroft, Assistant Director (Trading Standards) said, “This is the fourth
prosecution of this type in the last 5 weeks.
In all bar one, we’ve been alerted to the scam by members of the
public. I’m
grateful to them for their vigilance.
If anyone thinks that they have been sold substitute spirits, I would
invite them to telephone Trading Standards on 01539 773591.
All complaints will be investigated and the complainant’s anonymity
respected.
Notes
to Editors
1.
On 17 September 2023 Kendal Magistrates imposed on Nigel Zulli-Virgin of
The Wheatsheaf Inn, Brigsteer, and David Russell Atkinson of Idols Sports Bar,
Kent Street, Kendal, fines and costs totaling £4,700 for spirit substitution
offences.
2.
On 1 October 2002, Barrow Magistrates fined Sandra Paisley of The Newton
Hotel, Dalton-in-Furness, £750 and ordered her to pay £633 costs for selling
from a Gordon’s Gin bottle, gin that was not Gordons.
3.
For more information on this press release, contact Patrick Thomas on
01539 773591 or Phil Ashcroft on 01539 773586.