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Trade measurement laws require the retail sale of beer, stout, ale, brandy, gin, rum, vodka, and whisky (including whiskey) to be sold by a reference to volume.
Alcohol sold in bottles, cans or casks come under the regulations for pre-packaged goods. For more information see guide to the sale of pre-packed goods.
Some beers, particularly ‘boutique’ or ‘craft’ beers are sold on tap in non-standard vessels, such as ‘mason jars’ and takeaway containers, such as ‘growlers’ and ‘squealers’ that are not approved as a measuring instrument. For more information see our fact sheet on sale of beer in non-approved vessels and takeaway containers.
Under trade measurement law, beer, stout and ale must be sold at a price determined by reference to volume. The measurement of that volume must be in millilitres (mL) or litres (L) (or derivatives of) and correct.
When beer is sold on tap at a licensed premise, this usually involves serving the beer in an approved batch-tested glass or jug with the volume marked in millilitres (mL) or litres (L).
A batch-tested glass or jug can be manufactured from glass, acrylic or other approved materials.
All batch-tested products have been checked by a servicing licensee, verified against the National Measurement Institute’s (NMI) national test procedures and permanently marked or moulded with the manufacturer’s identification, the capacity and the batch testing mark.
Other requirements include:
Beer sold in vessels or containers not marked with a measurement statement, which are not batch-tested or verified, still need to be sold by reference to volume and that volume must be accurate.
There are no prescribed sizes for beverage measures for the sale of beer, ale and stout. Terms such as seven, middy, pot or schooner do not legally specify a particular size. Traders should ensure that any advertising using such terms should also include the actual size of the glass (e.g. middy – 280 mL, schooner – 400 mL).
The sale of brandy (including cognac and armagnac), gin, rum, vodka or whisky (whiskey) is usually made using an NMI-approved spirit measure. Approved spirit measures include simple measures commonly referred to as thimble measures, egg cups, jiggers, or more complex dispensers that require verification by servicing licensees.
Simple measures can either be purchased as a batch-tested item, or may be individually verified for accuracy by a servicing licensee. Requirements for simple spirit measures include that they must be:
Spirit dispensers must:
All spirit dispensers must conform with the legislation and have a current certificate of approval. Dispensers currently in use must bear a verification mark.
Measurement requirements continue to apply when brandy (including cognac and armagnac), gin, rum, vodka, whisky (or whiskey) are served with or without a mixer such as soft drink (e.g. vodka and orange, rum and cola), milk or water.
Non-approved bottle-top or wall-mounted pourers may be used to dispense products other than the specified spirits, providing a measurement statement is not made or implied. However, it is an offence to keep or use non-approved bottle-top or wall-mounted pourers marked with a quantity statement on premises where alcohol is sold.
The measurement requirements for the specified spirits do not apply:
Spirits that are not specified in the regulations do not have to be sold by measure.
Wine (unless it is pre-packaged) does not have to be sold by a volume measure. Therefore, wine may be sold in an unmarked glass or carafe.
Pre-packaged wine, whether in a bottle or cask, must adhere to all standard packaging requirements. However, the trade measurement regulations do not apply to the position of a measurement marking for standard-sized wine containers.
When selling by measurement, sellers are responsible for the accuracy of their measuring instruments. The instruments must:
There are no verification periods for alcohol dispensers. It is the responsibility of a person who sells alcohol to determine how regularly their alcohol dispensers should be verified.
The national trade measurement laws outline a number of offences relating to the sale of alcohol, including:
Breaches of the trade measurement laws could lead to an infringement notice or prosecution.
The main laws covering trade measurement are the National Measurement Act 1960 and the National Trade Measurement Regulations 2009. See regulation 5.1 for references to the sale of beer and spirits. For offences and penalties regarding the use of measuring instruments for trade and shortfall provisions see the following sections of the Act:
For more information contact 1300 686 664, infotm@measurement.gov.au or use our online form.
What is Trade Measurement? Pre-packed Goods