Rogue Beer Gas Supply

The use of gas cylinders for beer and other beverage dispense is widespread in the UK. Typically such cylinders are steel and filled with CO2 or N2 or mixtures of the two.

There is a substantial ‘unofficial’ portion of this market, which is subject to problems of safety, quality and the theft of assets.

Cylinders may be incorrectly filled, not adequately checked for food grade gas quality, filled with the wrong gas (e.g. compressed air instead of N2), or be allowed to become unsafe from internal corrosion and/or being out of test. The result may be simply poor quality beer, but could also be much more serious, with catastrophic cylinder failure a real possibility.

BCGA has cooperated with other relevant Trade Associations, the BBPA (the British Beer and Pub Association), and the BFBi (the Brewing, Food and Beverage Industry Suppliers Association) to produce a clear and succinct new leaflet, L10, which informs publicans about the dangers and how to spot them.

L10 has been welcomed by the HSE and LACORS.  To open L10 - Click Here.

The BFBi have also established a hotline for reporting concerns over this topic – 01902 422303.

We shall continue to support efforts to eradicate the unsafe and illegal supply of these products.

Doug Thornton – April ‘09