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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To find these double standards annoying?

54 replies

TheFoxAndTheMum · 07/06/2025 14:30

I work in a chain pub (carvery style family friendly pub). The GM is very involved in the day to day running and he can often be found serving on the bar a lot of the time as well.

We are all instructed by the GM to measure Wine and Gin etc before pouring drinks to ensure that we are not accidentally pouring too much and wasting stock. The GM enforces this and often tells staff off if they accidentally forget to measure.

However, whenever the GM is serving on the bar he never (not even once, not even when the Area Manager is in!) measures drinks before pouring them for customers. But he is always the first person to tell staff off if they don’t measure drinks. Multiple staff, including me, have pointed this out to him about how he doesn’t measure drinks and that he should start measuring drinks too because it’s double standards if he doesn’t but he just never changes and still doesn’t measure any drinks.

Staff get annoyed by it (the fact that the GM never measures). It doesn’t annoy me as much as it annoys some staff but some staff get very annoyed and frustrated by the fact that the GM never measures drinks that he makes.

Is it unreasonable to think this is double standards from the GM and to be annoyed by it?

OP posts:
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Coconutter24 · 08/06/2025 17:59

TheFoxAndTheMum · 07/06/2025 14:49

He’s breaking the law!

He might be but your post seems you are more bothered about the double standards. Either report him and move on or leave him to it and make sure you are doing your job right

Nevertea · 08/06/2025 16:33

If he suddenly relaxed on staff not formally measuring Op, you and your colleagues would be delighted and fully embrace no longer measuring.

You don’t give a hoot about the illegality. It’s the “doubt standard” that he’s doing something that YOU wanna do! 😆

ForZanyAquaViewer · 08/06/2025 11:29

TheFoxAndTheMum · 08/06/2025 10:41

He doesn’t measure wine either, he just pours it.

And for spirits he doesn’t use nozzle pourers.

Does the way your boss pours affect you in
some way? Your job is to use measures, so do your job. How you pour is his business, how he pours isn’t yours. That’s not a double standard, that’s the nature of your roles.

So, mind your own business.

TheFoxAndTheMum · 08/06/2025 10:41

PyongyangKipperbang · 07/06/2025 17:21

There is a technique called free pouring which is legal to do with spirits. You have to use the nozzle pourers and count as you are doing it. With practice it is very accurate, I can do it. I have been in the business longer than your GM. Wine though, no he shouldnt do it.

He doesn’t measure wine either, he just pours it.

And for spirits he doesn’t use nozzle pourers.

OP posts:
meganorks · 07/06/2025 22:52

I can see why you are annoyed at his double standards. But ultimately, you are right to be measuring, and he is wrong. So not sure there is much you can do about it. Other than know, if the shit ever hits the fan, you've not done anything against the rules.

LillyLeaf · 07/06/2025 22:27

PyongyangKipperbang · 07/06/2025 17:21

There is a technique called free pouring which is legal to do with spirits. You have to use the nozzle pourers and count as you are doing it. With practice it is very accurate, I can do it. I have been in the business longer than your GM. Wine though, no he shouldnt do it.

I agree, free pouring is allowed. We were tested for accuracy before each shift.

Lesina · 07/06/2025 22:19

He is in contravention of the sale of alcohol act. Remind him of this.

DoctorRoseReturns · 07/06/2025 22:16

TheFoxAndTheMum · 07/06/2025 16:46

I do care that it’s illegal!

You care so much you only mentioned when it was brought up and your complaint about fairness?

Maverickess · 07/06/2025 18:12

PyongyangKipperbang · 07/06/2025 17:38

The premises wont lose its licence, thats not how it works anymore. But he could lose his personal licence and therefore his job.

Trading standards can shut the premises on the spot if they have grounds to, and when the licence is up for renewal this will be taken into consideration.
I work somewhere that a member of staff got caught by trading standards not pouring measured alcohol and the councils licencing team were hot on the heels of trading standards and it was cited as a 'negative' point towards the premises licence when they inspected the premises, in the same way that repeated police attendance for anti social behaviour or serving under agers would be.
It's not great practice and although I could probably pour a pretty accurate measure by eye because I've been doing it so long, I wouldn't because it's just not worth it, and I'd be pissed off by anyone else doing it because they're inviting trouble and scrutiny, not because they told me not to.

MoominMai · 07/06/2025 18:03

FoodAppropriation · 07/06/2025 17:43

Not being dismissive about your role, but that's perks of being GM - not having to answer to staff they're managing.

There's nothing to report or complain about really, just him asking YOU to do your job and the right way. It might be annoying, but that's not wrong.

What he does in this context has nothing to do with you.

Must admit, I don’t think it’s worth getting s bothered about. Every job I’ve ever had, the manager has some sort of perk that would technically be seen as disciplinary if a minion attempted it lol. It’s just how it is. Unless GM is putting lives at risk or bringing the establishment into disrepute, just focus on doing right within your own role.

FoodAppropriation · 07/06/2025 17:43

Not being dismissive about your role, but that's perks of being GM - not having to answer to staff they're managing.

There's nothing to report or complain about really, just him asking YOU to do your job and the right way. It might be annoying, but that's not wrong.

What he does in this context has nothing to do with you.

PyongyangKipperbang · 07/06/2025 17:38

Maverickess · 07/06/2025 17:31

Well as we've established, it's a legal requirement and him flouting it is on him, I wouldn't be in a rush to join him to prove an "It's not fair!" Point.

I'd be more concerned he's risking my job by doing what he's doing and risking the licence being sanctioned or revoked tbh than being annoyed that he is flexing his management muscles with a "Do as I say not as I do attitude".

The premises wont lose its licence, thats not how it works anymore. But he could lose his personal licence and therefore his job.

Maverickess · 07/06/2025 17:31

Well as we've established, it's a legal requirement and him flouting it is on him, I wouldn't be in a rush to join him to prove an "It's not fair!" Point.

I'd be more concerned he's risking my job by doing what he's doing and risking the licence being sanctioned or revoked tbh than being annoyed that he is flexing his management muscles with a "Do as I say not as I do attitude".

PyongyangKipperbang · 07/06/2025 17:21

There is a technique called free pouring which is legal to do with spirits. You have to use the nozzle pourers and count as you are doing it. With practice it is very accurate, I can do it. I have been in the business longer than your GM. Wine though, no he shouldnt do it.

JemimaPiddlepot · 07/06/2025 17:16

You could report him. At the moment you’re just moaning without doing anything.

If you don’t want to report him, just keep measuring properly and don’t worry about what he’s doing. You’ll be in the clear legally and won’t be picked up at any inspection.

Fingerpie · 07/06/2025 16:47

“Doubles standard” is the crux of your OP

bugger all to do with legality of it op.

essentially you don’t want to use the measuring cups 😆

AgnesX · 07/06/2025 16:47

You're not being unreasonable but he's the boss so tough really. You follow the rules, that's as much as you can do. You could report him but to whom.

Fingerpie · 07/06/2025 16:46

TheFoxAndTheMum · 07/06/2025 16:46

I do care that it’s illegal!

So why the absence of any reference in a very detailed Op 😆

TheFoxAndTheMum · 07/06/2025 16:46

DoctorRoseReturns · 07/06/2025 16:33

If you care so much it's illegal (which you should because it could be your job under threat too) then you need to report it

I do care that it’s illegal!

OP posts:
Tagyoureit · 07/06/2025 16:38

In fairness, when I worked in pubs, I could accurately eyeball a measure, it became second nature. He does it every day, staff working shifts aren't so practised so use the measurer.

Fingerpie · 07/06/2025 16:35

TheFoxAndTheMum · 07/06/2025 16:31

I do care that it’s illegal as well!

Nah, you don’t

you’d have mentioned in the op

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 07/06/2025 16:35

It's weird you put so much thought into this and get wound up about it. Just measure and ignore what everybody else does.

DoctorRoseReturns · 07/06/2025 16:33

If you care so much it's illegal (which you should because it could be your job under threat too) then you need to report it

Nanny0gg · 07/06/2025 16:33

TheFoxAndTheMum · 07/06/2025 14:40

Yes legally it’s required. But the GM himself just doesn’t do it!

So really, it doesn't affect you at all?

He's your boss. It's up to him

TheFoxAndTheMum · 07/06/2025 16:31

DoctorRoseReturns · 07/06/2025 16:28

I'm echoing the above about the fact you don't seem to care that what he's doing is very illegal

It could lose the whole place its licence and close it down so I'd be worried about that and reporting it the AM as they should be concerned. Who is named Licence Holder?

Do your wine glasses have measure lines that he's using though?

None of our glasses have measure lines.

OP posts: