Guidance

WM 1008: Intoxicating liquor measuring equipment, version 1, March 2026

Updated 12 March 2026

Weights and Measures Bulletin 1008

Intoxicating liquor measuring equipment

This guidance note covers measuring instruments / systems designed to deliver a quantity of intoxicating liquor (alcoholic beer / cider / wine / spirits) used for trade on licensed premises in the UK.

The relevant legislation to consider is the:

• Weights and Measures Act 1985 (“the Act”), as amended
• Weights and Measures (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (“the Order”), as amended
• Measuring Equipment (Intoxicating Liquor) Regulations 1983 (“the 1983 Regulations”), as amended
• Measuring Equipment (Intoxicating Liquor) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984 (“the 1984 Regulations”)

Section 11(1) of the Act enables the Secretary of State to prescribe weighing or measuring equipment used for trade, so that it can only be used within Great Britain (GB) if it has been passed and stamped by an inspector of weights and measures or an approved verifier in accordance with section 11A. Equivalent provisions apply in Northern Ireland (NI) under Article 9 and 9A of the Order.

It is a criminal offence for any person to possess or use prescribed measuring equipment for trade that has not been passed by an inspector or an approved verifier or does not bear an official stamp (see section 11(3) of the Act and article 9(2) of the Order).

Measuring equipment used for trade on premises where liquor is sold by retail, for the purpose of measuring no more than two pints of liquor, has been prescribed by the Secretary of State for purposes of section 11(1) of the Act (and Article 9(1) of the Order). This includes a measuring device, such as a flowmeter, and any ancillary equipment affixed to the measuring device, to facilitate its operation to deliver a measured quantity of intoxicating liquor. The 1983 Regulations came into force in GB on the 1 April 1984, and the 1984 Regulations came into force in NI on 9 July 1984.

Intoxicating liquor measuring equipment must be made in accordance with an approved pattern before it can be passed and stamped by an inspector or approved verifier. Certificates of approval of a pattern of measuring equipment can only be granted, renewed or revoked by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 12 of the Act and article 10 of the Order. This service is provided by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) on the Secretary of State’s behalf. All UK pattern approval certificates issued under section 12 of the Act are available on GOV.UK.

Intoxicating liquor measuring equipment must bear an approved stamp before it can be used for trade. The definition of ‘use for trade’ is provided by Section 7 of the Act. It includes any transaction made by reference to quantity, including where there is an implied statement of quantity. i.e. ’Pint of beer,’ and the measurement is used to determine the price to pay. It also includes any measuring equipment made available to be used by members of the public.

Users of intoxicating liquor measuring equipment must ensure that a pattern approval certificate is in force for that kind of measuring instrument, and that the equipment bears an official stamp before using it for trade. The measuring instrument must also comply with all other relevant marking, testing and stamping requirements in the Act / Order and the 1983 / 1984 Regulations.

Clarification of issues

How do I obtain a certificate of approval for my intoxicating liquor measuring instrument / system?

Contact OPSS to make an application under section 12 of the Act and article 10 of the Order.

How do I get my intoxicating liquor measuring instruments / systems stamped by an inspector?

Contact the local Trading Standards Service that covers the location of where you will be installing / operating the measuring instrument – Enter the location postcode

What types of intoxicating liquor measuring instruments are covered under the 1983/ 1984 regulations?

The regulations cover measuring equipment such as spirt measuring instruments with a fixed chamber, in addition to beer, cider or wine metering devices in a quantity less than two pints. This equipment in use for trade must bear an approved stamp.

My intoxicating liquor measuring system is used for ‘self-service’ by the customer – am I in scope?

Yes. As the measuring instrument will be used directly by members of the public to purchase alcohol by reference to quantity, it is being used for trade and therefore must comply with the Act/ Order and the 1983/ 1984 Regulations, be made in accordance with a certificate of approval and be passed and stamped as fit for use for trade. Failure to do so is a criminal offence and could result in the measuring instrument being forfeited.

My system is only designed for non-alcoholic drinks – am I in scope?

The 1983 and 1984 Regulations only prescribe measuring equipment used for intoxicating liquor, so if the instrument is only used for the sale of soft drinks, fruit juices, or alcohol free wines, beer, cider or spirits (less than <1.2% ABV), then the instrument is not in scope of the 1983 or 1984 Regulations. It therefore does not require pattern approval or need to be passed as fit for use for trade and bear an official stamp.

Measuring equipment used for trade must still be accurate if you are selling with an indication of quantity. It is a criminal offence to possess or use for trade any measuring equipment that is false or unjust (see section 17 or the Act and article 15 of the Order).

My measuring system is only used by staff to quickly fill cups to then serve alcoholic drinks – am I in scope?

If the measuring system cannot be accessed by the public and is only used by staff to fill capacity serving measures to then serve alcoholic drinks on premises, then the instrument is not being used for measurement purposes and is therefore not in scope of the 1983 or 1984 Regulations.

All beer, wine, cider, gin, rum, vodka, and whisky can only be sold for consumption on premises in the specified quantities prescribed by the Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order 1988.

The capacity serving measure used to measure and serve intoxicating liquor is in scope of the Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016 (see part 11 to Schedule 6) and must be made in accordance with the essential requirements (Schedule 1A) and be conformity assessed (Schedule 1B). The capacity serving measure must also bear the full set of conformity markings i.e. UKCA or CE mark followed by the other mandatory conformity marks (including year and Approved Body / Notified Body number) marking.

Manufacturers of the measuring equipment must comply with the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 and ensure any marketing material is clear to potential buyers that, if the instrument is not made in accordance with certificate of approval, it cannot be used for trade. Manufacturers must make clear that such instruments can only be used to dispense non-alcoholic drinks, or alcoholic drinks on premises if prepared by staff using approved capacity serving measures before delivery to the customer.

My self-service measuring instrument dispenses alcohol into capacity serving measures – am I in scope?

If the measuring instrument is intended for self-service of intoxicating liquor, then it is in scope of the 1983 / 1984 Regulations as it will be being used for trade (a transaction by reference to quantity). Capacity serving measures (that bear the full set of conformity marks) can only be used with intervention by a staff member to ensure that the fill is correct on each and every delivery. A self-service dispenser that accepts payment and dispenses without staff intervention cannot rely on a capacity serving measure to meet the requirements of the Act / Order – it is the measurement of intoxicating liquor dispensed by the instrument that is the basis of the transaction, meaning the instrument is being used for trade and is therefore in scope.

Document control

Version No.	Date of change	Substantive changes
1.0	March 2026	Original document