The decision on a summary review followed allegations that a number of customers had their drinks spiked, blacked out and then had large sums defrauded from their credit cards. The Metropolitan Police’s application to revoke the licence was not upheld. The case raised the increasingly encountered issue of drink spiking in licensed venues and the Council heard expert evidence on the prevalence of drink spiking allegations and the conflicting evidence of whether the customers had in fact had their drinks spiked or, alternatively, had simply consumed too much alcohol and blamed spiking for their condition. 

FTB’s Gerald Gouriet KC acted for the Metropolitan Police and Gary Grant acted for the licence holder (instructed by Luke Elford of John Gaunt solicitors).