Kepping Wokingham Christmas spirits high but legal
A high profile Wokingham operation to ensure revellers are left with nothing more than a hangover this Christmas has taken place in pubs across the Wokingham Borough.
Wokingham Borough Council’s licensing and trading standards teams visited various pubs across the borough to make sure that they were complying with their licence conditions and selling authentic branded spirits in the run up to Christmas and New Year celebrations.
During the campaign, licensing and trading standards officers were joined by officers from Thames Valley Police to spread the word about how to keep safe and on the right side of the law.
To ensure the Wokingham public are not mislead, an officer from trading standards checked branded spirits on sale to make sure they were genuine. A licensing officer made sure the pubs were complying with health and safety requirements and were not selling alcohol to under 18s– which is a direct breach of the conditions of all licensed premises.
The tests and checks were carried out randomly in pubs in Wokingham town centre, Woodley Town centre and pubs near to both towns on the evening and night of Friday December 7.
Wokingham Trading standards officers also handed out free beer mats promoting their anti counterfeiting message “Don’t be a Fake” which is currently urging people to think twice before buying or selling something that is not genuine and report anyone thought to be selling fakes.
All the pubs that were checked were found to be carrying out the terms and conditions of their licences, none of them were found to be selling alcohol to minors and there were no problems with the alcohol tested.
Alonso Ercilla, trading standards officer, said: “As part of the operation, beer mats were handed out to publicans promoting the “Don’t be a fake!” message. The message is part of a campaign by trading standards to highlight the detrimental effects of both selling and buying fakes and to encourage people to report sellers of fakes to us.
“Fakes are wrong for various reasons, from the lack of safety testing to the substitution of genuine substances with potentially harmful ones. Furthermore, selling fakes can amount to a criminal offence punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”
Cllr Barrie Patman, executive member for Wokingham community safety, added: “I’m pleased the licensees in the Wokingham Borough, who were subject to these random tests were able to show licensing and trading standards officers that they take their responsibilities and licensing conditions very seriously.
“These visits by the licensing and safety teams and Thames Valley Police, were aimed at ensuring all is safe and legal in pubs across the Wokingham Borough and I’m very pleased that they provided public reassurance at the same time.”
Wokingham Borough Council’s licensing and trading standards teams visited various pubs across the borough to make sure that they were complying with their licence conditions and selling authentic branded spirits in the run up to Christmas and New Year celebrations.
During the campaign, licensing and trading standards officers were joined by officers from Thames Valley Police to spread the word about how to keep safe and on the right side of the law.
To ensure the Wokingham public are not mislead, an officer from trading standards checked branded spirits on sale to make sure they were genuine. A licensing officer made sure the pubs were complying with health and safety requirements and were not selling alcohol to under 18s– which is a direct breach of the conditions of all licensed premises.
The tests and checks were carried out randomly in pubs in Wokingham town centre, Woodley Town centre and pubs near to both towns on the evening and night of Friday December 7.
Wokingham Trading standards officers also handed out free beer mats promoting their anti counterfeiting message “Don’t be a Fake” which is currently urging people to think twice before buying or selling something that is not genuine and report anyone thought to be selling fakes.
All the pubs that were checked were found to be carrying out the terms and conditions of their licences, none of them were found to be selling alcohol to minors and there were no problems with the alcohol tested.
Alonso Ercilla, trading standards officer, said: “As part of the operation, beer mats were handed out to publicans promoting the “Don’t be a fake!” message. The message is part of a campaign by trading standards to highlight the detrimental effects of both selling and buying fakes and to encourage people to report sellers of fakes to us.
“Fakes are wrong for various reasons, from the lack of safety testing to the substitution of genuine substances with potentially harmful ones. Furthermore, selling fakes can amount to a criminal offence punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”
Cllr Barrie Patman, executive member for Wokingham community safety, added: “I’m pleased the licensees in the Wokingham Borough, who were subject to these random tests were able to show licensing and trading standards officers that they take their responsibilities and licensing conditions very seriously.
“These visits by the licensing and safety teams and Thames Valley Police, were aimed at ensuring all is safe and legal in pubs across the Wokingham Borough and I’m very pleased that they provided public reassurance at the same time.”
Wokingham Borough Council
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