West End nightspot Tiger Tiger has been fined £120,000 after customers were served caustic soda for their tequila shots instead of salt.
Four women were hospitalised after ingesting the cleaning substance by accident during a night out on December 7, 2021, suffering burning in their mouths and vomiting.
Westminster magistrates court heard the women visited the popular bar and club in the Haymarket area of the West End and went to the bar for shots.
The barman lined up the drinks but then realised they had run out of salt – a traditional tequila accompaniment with a slice of lemon – in the bar area.
Westminster City Council, which brought a health and safety prosecution against the bar, said the barman then made a horrifying mix-up in an unlit storage area behind the bar, using a disposable plastic cup to scoop what he believed was salt from a large white container on a shelf.
The customers poured the white substance onto the back of their hands, licked it and drank the shot.
The barman instantly realised something was wrong as the women fell ill in front of him, and he tasted the white powder himself.
The council said he could taste it was not salt, and was himself burned in his mouth and on his tongue by the rogue caustic soda, which contained strong levels of alkaline.
The women were given water to help with the burning, and they were taken to hospital for treatment. Police were also called and found the container of caustic soda.
At Westminster magistrates court last week, Tiger Tiger owners A3D2 Limited pleaded guilty to four health and safety breaches, by “failing to ensure (customers) were not exposed to the risk of chemical substances”.
The firm was ordered to pay a £120,000 fine over the incident.
Councillor Aicha Less, the council’s Deputy Leader who is in charge of communities, public protection and licensing, said: “The shocking details of this case show a lack of attention and proper process for handling toxic cleaning chemicals.
"This incident shows that overlooking basic safety measures can have the most serious consequences.
“We hope the significant fine awarded in court acts to all businesses as a warning, preventing this from ever happening again.
“Westminster City Council’s Health and Safety Team will continue to work with all businesses in the city to make sure the highest levels of health and safety are consistently maintained, and staff are educated in safe practice.”
