The National Measurement Institute has begun sending inspectors to licensed venues around the country, as part of its latest round of measurement compliance measures.
Beginning this week, the National Measurement Institute (NMI) is checking quantities on the sale of beer and prescribed spirits, as per its National Compliance Plan 2021-22, designed to ensure consumers get the correct volume of alcohol they order.
The NMI employs around 50 inspectors across Australia, and plain-clothes “pint police” inspectors will focus on around 320 pubs, clubs, hotels and breweries, monitoring venues for a week.
The inspections are also intended to give licensed venues confidence their trading practices are up to standard, and profits not affected by inaccurate measurements.
The NMI’s last major audit began in August 2019, and almost 30 per cent of traders were found to have instances of non-compliance, although most of these did not affect measurement accuracy.
However, an average of about four per cent of alcohol dispensers were found to be under-pouring. The Institute says businesses promptly rectified problems once identified.
A release from the Minister for Science and Technology, Melissa Price, notes inspectors will test trading practices, and the impact of inaccurate measurements on profits.
“It’s important that consumers are getting what they have paid for,” says the Minister.
“For many businesses, it’s been a tough couple of years. Where businesses are re-establishing after long lockdowns or natural disasters, audits will give assurance that their instruments are still compliant.”
Venues found to be in serious breach risk a maximum fine of $220,000.
These inspections come as anticipation rises for the Federal Government to announce a 50 per cent cut in draught beer tax in the upcoming budget, in hope of attracting more Australians back into pubs and clubs.
