Alcoholic beverage measurements in restaurants
Measuring instruments for dispensing alcoholic beverages
Alcoholic beverages shall be measured with officially verified measuring instruments
(Weights and Measures Act 219/65, Weights and Measures Decree 370/92, and Measuring Instruments Directive 2004/22/EU).
Capacity serving measures
Capacity serving measures (the transfer measures or so-called spirit measures of 12 cl, 8 cl, 4 cl, 2 cl, 1.5 cl, 1 cl) shall be officially verified before use. It is not necessary to have a re-verification as long as the stamp is legible and the measure is undamaged.
Initial verification marking for transfer measures of alcoholic beverages
The verification marking for transfer measures of alcoholic beverages includes a crown mark, the last two digits of the year in which the verification was carried out (06) and the verifier‘s number. (xx).
Initial verification marking for transfer measures of alcoholic beverages
Measuring devices for alcoholic beverages
Measuring devices for alcoholic beverages (for spirits, wine, beer, cider, and long drinks) shall be officially re-verified every three years, and every time the seal is broken or the accuracy of the measuring device is suspect.
Standard glasses
Using approved standard glasses (with a line measure indicating the correct capacity) is an alternative to using standard capacity serving measures or measuring devices for alcoholic beverages. The nationally approved standard glasses have traditionally been those used for beer and cider.
Approvals for line measures, according to the Measuring Instrument Directive (MID), can take into account all serving sizes and types of alcoholic beverage.
When using approved standard glasses, the beverage must be measured up to the line.
Marking for conformity with Measuring Instrument Directive
According to the Measuring Instrument Directive (MID), type-approved measuring instruments shall have a conformity marking which includes the CE mark, the metrological mark (M), the last two digits of the year in which the conformity mark was affixed (07) and the identification number of the Notified Body (0000).
Marking for conformity with Measuring Instrument Directive (MID)
Type tests and periodic checks for measuring instruments used for dispensing
alcoholic beverages
Required approvals and verifications for various instrument types are shown in the following table
TYPE TESTS AND PERIODIC VERIFICATIONS FOR MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
| Measuring instrument |
Type test/
approval |
Initial
verification |
Re-verification |
Re-verification period (years)
|
| Bottle mouth measuring instrument (optic) |
- |
x |
x |
3 |
| Measuring instrument for beer/ cider |
x |
x |
x |
3 |
| Measuring instrument for alcoholic beverages |
x |
x |
x |
3 |
Capacity serving
measure (transfer measure) |
- |
x |
- |
- |
Standard glass
(line marker) |
x |
- |
- |
- |
The Finnish national re-verification mark
The Finnish national initial and re-verification mark indicates the year and month in which the verification was carried out.
The Finnish re-verification mark. The Finnish seal
In this example the re-verification
is carried out in November 2007.
An official periodical check (re-verification) can be performed and the respective mark can be affixed by an authorised inspection body only. Removing or damaging seals (by breweries, for example) invalidates the verification. Information about approved inspection bodies can be found on Tukes website www.tukes.fi.
Supervision of legal measuring instruments
The Safety Technology Authority (Tukes) and the provincial authorities ensure that only legal measuring instruments are used for dispensing alcoholic drinks. Using an illegal measuring instrument is punishable with a fine. For more information about measuring requirements, please see www.tukes.fi.