DRINKERS in South Shields have another reason to celebrate this festive season - they are not being ripped off when it comes to buying spirits.

Tests carried out by South Tyneside Council's trading standards and environmental health teams found that revellers were getting exactly what they had paid for on a range of drinks.

Officers say that substituting cheap or bootlegged spirits into branded bottles for resale in restaurants, pubs, clubs, and bars was known in the trade as tipping.

Drinkers were often unaware that what was in the bottle bore no relation to what was on the label.

In the run-up to Christmas test purchases were made in ten pubs and clubs selected at random in South Shields town centre.

Tests on spirits were carried out using special kits devised to detect brand authenticity and whether any water had been added to them.

They also checked on measures and prices.