01_QHA_July_Online

INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
with Damian Steele
HOW DO YOU MEASURE UP?
QHA REVIEW | 38
For over 60 years, our industry has been required to
comply with the National Measurement Act 1990 (Cth)
which requires that accurate and approved measuring
instruments are used for selling beer and certain
prescribed spirits to ensure that customers do not
receive short-measure.
The Act stipulates:
5.1 Beer, spirits etc must be sold by reference to
volume
(1) For a sale of each of the following items, the
item must be sold at a price determined by
reference to volume:
(a) beer;
(b) stout;
(c) ale;
(d) brandy (including armagnac and cognac);
(e) gin;
(f) rum;
(g) vodka;
(h) whisky (including whiskey).
Draught beer
Beer dispensed from taps must be made by a volume
measurement in metric units and be sold in approved,
batch-tested glassware or batch-tested acrylic
containers marked in millilitres (mL) or litres (L). Tested
and approved glasses or jugs can be easily identified
as they are marked on the base or side with:
• the capacity in mL; and
• the approved mark in the form of a stylised scale
Wine
Wine (unless it is pre-packaged) does not have to
be sold by a volume measure and may be sold in an
unmarked glass or carafe. For example, advertising a
small or a large glass serve without reference to the
amount in mL.
If a venue chooses to specify a volume, e.g. 150mL
or 250mL glass, then they are compelled to serve that
amount accurately.
THE QHA WILL BE PROVIDING EDUCATION AND
AWARENESS MATERIALS TO MEMBERS IN
ANTICIPATION OF AUDITS LATER IN THE YEAR.
Spirits
The prescribed spirits mentioned above must be
measured correctly by using either electronic/
mechanical instruments (spirit dispensers) or simple
15/30mL beverage measures (nip pourers or jiggers)
which have been approved, tested and marked
accordingly. All measuring instruments must be in a
capacity of either 15mL, 30mL or 60mL.
An electronic/mechanical spirit dispenser must be
marked with:
• a NMI approval number
• the capacity in mL; and
• a certification mark.
A nip pourer/jigger must be made of rigid material (e.g.
stainless steel or polycarbonate) and marked with:
• the capacity in mL; and
• the approved mark in the form of a stylised scale.
The measurement requirements for the specified spirits
do not apply:
• when they are mixed with other spirits or with
other alcoholic liquors to produce cocktails
• to any liqueurs
• to any brandy not made from grapes such
as cherry brandy or plum brandy which are
liqueurs.