Taking home undrunk wine from a restaurant

Laz123

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Whats with the Americanisms?

It's called sarcasm which obviously sailed right past you. My son is a police officer and if someone phoned up with an idiotic situation such as this, because he's well brought up he wouldn't burst out laughing but would wait until he'd hung up the phone, followed by loud guffawing by the rest of the station. Police resources are stretched and to take this seriously is beyond a joke.

19lottie82

giraffe69 wrote: »

I'm sure that would improve their relationship with customers. Why on earth would they wish to do this?

Because unless they have an off sales licence (and almost certainly won't) , they could be prosecuted (licence revoked / huge fine) if you're found to be in possession on an opened bottle of alcohol from the restaurant, that's why.

19lottie82

Laz123 wrote: »

Lol. I can just see three squad cars screeching to a halt outside the restaurant and the area commander shouting out: 'You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.'

God give me strength.

Don't be so ridiculous.

Laz123 wrote: »

My son is a police officer and if someone phoned up with an idiotic situation such as this, because he's well brought up he wouldn't burst out laughing but would wait until he'd hung up the phone, followed by loud guffawing by the rest of the station. Police resources are stretched and to take this seriously is beyond a joke.

The police taking licensing laws very seriously. And they work in close conjunction with the licensing boards, trust me. In fact, ask your policeman son.

I'm not saying a restaurant would definitely do that, and a lot of restaurants will let you take half drank bottles of wine home, but at the end of the day, it's still illegal, if they don't have an off sales license. If a customer blatantly broke the terms of their license, after being requested not to, then the law certainly could get involved.

Just to confirm, I worked in bars restaurants for 12 years and had plenty of training on the matter.

lulu_92

We used to have this problem at my old work. We only had a licence to serve alcohol for people to drink on the premises. We also were allowed to give alcohol as free gifts as we were not selling it.

I used to have this debate with women all of the time so I would open the bottle for them and keep the cap.

shaun_from_Africa

19lottie82 wrote: »

Because unless they have an off sales licence (and almost certainly won't)

Without knowing the restaurant concerned, how can you possibly have any idea of the category of licence that they have?
It is easier to get an off sales licence than an on sales one and for this reason, many restaurant applications are for a combined on and off sales licence.

powerful_Rogue

Laz123 wrote: »

It's called sarcasm which obviously sailed right past you. My son is a police officer and if someone phoned up with an idiotic situation such as this, because he's well brought up he wouldn't burst out laughing but would wait until he'd hung up the phone, followed by loud guffawing by the rest of the station. Police resources are stretched and to take this seriously is beyond a joke.

Still dont understand the Americanisms, especially if your son is a UK Police Officer.

Regardless, this would be brought to the attention of the Licencing officer at the station, not front line resources.

peachyprice

19lottie82 wrote: »

That's fair and well but bear in mind you would be breaking the law and the restaurant would be within their rights to report you to the police.

You don't need a licence to buy wine, the restaurant needs a licence to sell it. The restaurant would be breaking licencing laws, not the customer.

19lottie82

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Without knowing the restaurant concerned, how can you possibly have any idea of the category of licence that they have?
It is easier to get an off sales licence than an on sales one and for this reason, many restaurant applications are for a combined on and off sales licence.

I'm not talking about a specific restaurant, I'm talking generally.

It may be easier to get an off sales licence than for one to consume alcohol on the premises, but why would most restaurants / bars want (hence bother applying for) the former?

In my 12 years experience in the industry I've never working in a bar or restaurant that's had an off sales license.

timbstoke

19lottie82 wrote: »

That's fair and well but bear in mind you would be breaking the law and the restaurant would be within their rights to report you to the police.

Really? Which law? Statute and regulation, please.

The restaurant may or may not be in breach of their license, but I've never seen a premises license which doesn't also include off premises sales, at least in my area.

giraffe69

It may be easier to get an off sales licence than for one to consume alcohol on the premises, but why would most restaurants / bars want (hence bother applying for) the former?

Perhaps the restaurant might apply a. so as to help customers b. so as to avoid trouble with the local Stasi

A restaurant might not do this and then refuse to let someone take the half full bottle away if it was in line for jobsworth of the year.