Liquor

This Topic Includes:
Beer
Wine and spirits
Measuring instruments
Penalties

If you sell liquor you don't have to sell it by measure.

If you do state a measure, it must be accurate, and your measuring instruments will be deemed to be 'in use for trade' and they must be

• of an approved type
• verified by an Accredited Person or the Measurement and Product Safety Service (MAPSS).

An Accredited Person is an organisation accredited by MAPSS to verify measuring instruments.

Beer

Beer is traditionally sold by the glass or the jug. It is not usually sold by measure.

The use of Imperial measures (eg, 'pint') for trade is illegal. The pint is a measure equalling 568 millilitres.

Traders selling 'pints' of beer which are not equal to or greater than 568 mls face prosecution for short measure and for selling by Imperial measure.

Wine & spirits

Wine is usually sold by the glass, carafe or bottle, and spirits by the nip - ie, by description, and not by measure.

Measuring instruments

MAPSS tests and approves weighing or measuring instruments, including those which importers wish to bring into New Zealand.

MAPSS encourages manufacturers and importers of spirits dispensers to have these instruments approved.

If the country of origin of imported dispensers is a full member of the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML) then MAPSS can recognise the Certificate of Approval that applies to the dispenser and approve it without the need for a full range of tests.

MAPSS has approved two types of spirit dispensers that can be used for trade. These are:

ETN4 Electronic Spirit Dispenser, supplied by:

Wellington
50-54 Waione Street
Petone 5012
Phone 04 5683524
Fax 0800 427398

Palmerston North
175-177 John F Kennedy Drive (opposite Ezibuy)
Palmerston North 4414
Phone 06 3533595
Fax 06 3540695

Diamond Liquor Dispenser, supplied by:

Wellington
50-54 Waione Street
Petone 5012
Phone 04 5683524
Fax 0800 427398

Palmerston North
175-177 John F Kennedy Drive (opposite Ezibuy)
Palmerston North 4414
Phone 06 3533595
Fax 06 3540695

Penalties

For using an incorrect measuring instrument an infringement offence notice (issued by MAPSS), the fee for which is $500. Alternatively, a fine up to a maximum of $5,000 on conviction in the District Court.

For delivering or causing to be delivered a quantity less than purported or where the quantity does not correspond with the price charged, a fine up to a maximum of $5,000 as this type of offence can only be prosecuted in a District Court.