SNIPPERS’ FINE WINE

HAIRDRESSERS and beauty salons could be shorn of £20,000 if they offer complimentary wine or champagne to customers.

Staffordshire Police said their officers had found “quite a few” businesses offering free drinks without the proper licence.

The force said that while this service is “well-intentioned”, it is against the law if the businesses do not have clearance to sell alcohol.

Punishment for breaching the law is a fine of up to £20,000, up to six months in prison or both.

Inspector Paul Prenter, head of the force’s licensing department, said: “We want to have a positive relationship with businesses in Staffordshire, which is why we want to provide this warning first.”