Rogue bartenders could be serving some extra customers this week, with the pint police coming out in force to ensure the right amount of liquor is being poured.
The country’s peak measurement body, the National Measurement Institute, is conducting a week-long and nationwide audit, with about 320 pubs, clubs, hotels and breweries being put under the microscope.
The last major audit in 2019 found almost 30 per cent of traders had instances of noncompliance.
Businesses who are short measuring their customers can be fined up to $222,000.
National Measurement Institute chief executive Bruce Warrington told ABC Radio on Monday that many Australians were not aware that there were special laws surrounding measurement.
“Inspectors can go out and make sure that practices are right, instruments are right and people get what they paid for,” Mr Warrington said.
“Almost all traders want to do the right thing, they want their customers to have trust in them.
“We look at patterns, we do look at history, we do try and put our inspectors where they can do the most good. It is about giving everyone the confidence that they need.”
Hotels Association Victoria chief executive Paddy O’Sullivan, shared similar sentiments, saying it is important for the customer to get they get what they paid for, especially after multiple lockdowns.
“Customers vote with their feet and now is not the time to short-change the customer. As you recover out of Covid, customers are king,” Mr O’Sullivan told 3AW on Monday.
“I think that means, in practice, publicans are giving customers extra value for money so the customer feels as if they want to come back.”
Mr O’Sullivan also said previous examples of noncompliance had been “few and far between”.
