Proposals for changes to the Legal Quantities for sales of Intoxicating Liquor

Overview

The Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading is asking for people’s view in regard to its proposal to introduce changes to the legal quantities for sales of intoxicating liquor.

Why your views matter

The previous consultation undertaken by the OFT regarding proposals for changes to the legal quantities for sales of intoxicating liquor was over four years ago. This latest consultation is driven by repeated concerns about the continued availability of approved (‘stamped’) measuring equipment, which is used to determine measures of gin, rum, vodka, whisky and brandy sold by retail for consumption on the premises at which it is sold, in addition to the need to promote sensible drinking and facilitate events such as wine tastings and beer festivals.

The opportunity has also been taken to consider the issue of ‘free pouring’, i.e. pouring into capacity measures that have not been ‘stamped’, which, in the OFT’s opinion, presents a risk of selling inaccurate measures. It is a criminal offence to sell inaccurate measures and, in the OFT’s opinion, the risk of selling short measures or measures in excess through ‘free pouring’ would be significantly reduced by using approved measuring equipment.

This would not only help to ensure that consumers get what they pay for but would also help to avoid instances of consumers having drunk more than they believed they had, for example, in the context of drink driving.

Consultation document

What happens next

Summary of responses