'Pint Police' to inspect Aussie pubs and clubs

Trade measurement inspectors from the National Measurement Institute (NMI) will run a week-long audit of pubs, clubs and restaurants to check the sale of beer and prescribed spirits at more than 300 venues across the country.

Science and technology minister Melissa Price said inspectors would be testing trading practices, measurement accuracy and measuring instrument compliance over the course of the week.

She said it was important that patrons got the pint they paid for.

"For many businesses, it's been a tough couple of years. Where businesses are re-establishing after long lockdowns or natural disasters, audits will give assurance that their instruments are still compliant," Ms Price said.

"We are also ensuring our inspectors have up to date information on the range of government assistance that is available to businesses."

Any venues found to be short-pouring their customer's drinks could be fined up to $222,000 per offence.

The Licensed Premises Program is designed to ensure consumers get the correct volume of alcohol they order.

It also aims to give licensed venues the confidence their trading practices are up to standard and their profits aren't affected by inaccurate measurements.

The last major NMI licensed venue blitz was in August 2019, with almost 30 per cent of traders having instances of non-compliance.

While most instances of non-compliance did not affect measurement accuracy, about four per cent of alcohol dispensers were found to be under pouring.

Businesses promptly rectified the problems once they were pointed out.

The NMI employs about 50 trade measurement inspectors throughout Australia who undertake a variety of regulatory inspection audits.