Tiger Tiger nightclub fined £120k after bartender mistook caustic soda for salt
A nightclub has been fined after one of its bartenders mistakenly gave customers caustic soda instead of salt with their tequila shots.
Four women were taken to hospital after ingesting the cleaning chemical at the Tiger Tiger nightclub on Haymarket, central London, Westminster City Council said.
The venue was fined £120,000 after admitting four charges under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week.
An investigation by the council’s health and safety team found the incident happened when a group of three women and a man visited the venue and ordered four tequila shots, often served with salt and lime, on Dec 7, 2021.
Realised there was no salt
As the bartender prepared the drinks he realised there was no salt so he went to an unlit area behind the bar. He used a disposable plastic cup to scoop what he believed was salt from a large white container on a shelf, the council said.
The customers then poured the white substance onto the back of their hands, licked it and drank the shot. They immediately became unwell and the emergency services were called.
When he realised something was wrong, the bartender tasted the substance himself, which burnt his mouth and tongue.
A witness told The Sun shortly after the incident that the group had begun to retch. “There was panic. People thought it was some kind of terrorist incident,” they said.
Police officers who attended the scene found a white container with a caustic soda label on it, the council said.
Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, is used as a drain cleaner but has also been used to dissolve roadkill because of its corrosive properties.
Chemical burns on skin
It can cause chemical burns if it comes into contact with skin, and potentially blindness if it gets into eyes.
The substance given to the women at Tiger Tiger was found to have a PH level of 13, making it a strong alkaline.
Councillor Aicha Less 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 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.”
Tiger Tiger, which advertises itself as a “staple of London’s nightlife”, has been on London’s Haymarket since 1998.
It is one of 41 venues owned by A3D2, also known as Novus Leisure, including several other branches of Tiger Tiger.
In 2007 it was the target of an unsuccessful car bomb linked to the Glasgow airport attack, which was thwarted after door staff noticed a suspicious vehicle.
