A West End nightspot has been hit with a fine of £120,000 after clubbers were served caustic soda instead of salt with tequila shots in a horror incident.
Five shocked clubbers were left ‘bleeding from their mouths’ and vomiting after ingesting the cleaning agent in Tiger Tiger back in December 2021.
The group, of four women and a man, suffered burns on their mouths and all four women were hospitalised as a result.
Other clubbers were so shocked by the incident that some believed there had been a terror attack in the club.
Westminster magistrates court heard the women visited the popular night spot in the Haymarket area of the West End and went to the bar to order shots, the Evening Standard reported.
Five shocked clubbers were left vomiting with burns on their mouths after ingesting caustic soda and tequila in the Tiger Tiger nightclub back in December 2021
Shots of tequila are traditionally served with salt and a slice of lemon or lime. Pictured: A stock image of tequila shots
Other clubbers were so shocked by the incident that some believed there had been a terror attack in the club
The barman began preparing the drinks before realising he had run out of salt – which is traditionally served alongside a slice of lemon or lime with a shot of tequila.
The barman then made a horrifying error in an unlit storage area behind the bar when he used a plastic cup to scoop out what he believed to be salt from a large white container on a shelf, Westminster City Council, which brought the health and safety prosecution against the bar, told the court.
The punters poured out the caustic soda onto the back of their hands, licked it off and then threw the shot back.
The women instantly fell ill and the barman knew something was wrong.
He tasted the white powder himself and the corrosive cleaning agent burned his mouth, the council said.
The women were given water to ease the burning and were taken to hospital for treatment.
Members of the Metropolitan Police found the container of caustic soda in the storage.
Last week, at Westminster magistrates court, A3D2 Limited – the owners of Tiger Tiger – 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 hit with a £120,000 fine over the incident.
Speaking about the incident, one insider told The Sun: ‘A group of four women and a man necked the tequilas and used salt and lemon to soften the taste, then began to retch.
‘There was panic. People thought it was some kind of terrorist incident.’
Westminster City Council’s deputy leader Councillor Aicha Less said she hopes the ‘significant fine’ the bar faced would prevent similar incidents happening in the future.
She said: ‘The shocking details of this case show a lack of attention and proper process for handling toxic cleaning chemicals.
Westminster City Council’s deputy leader Councillor Aicha Less said she hopes the ‘significant fine’ the bar faced would prevent similar incidents happening in the future
The firm that owns Tiger Tiger was hit with a £120,000 fine over the incident which took place two years ago
‘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.’
Police reportedly refused to let anyone out of the club at the Haymarket, near Piccadilly Circus, following the incident, on December 7.
Emergency vehicles, including an air ambulance, are also said to have raced to the scene.
A Met Police spokesperson said after it happened: ‘We were called at approximately 10.50pm on Tuesday, 7 December following reports of four people who had suffered burns after coming into contact with a substance, believed to be a strong alkali, at a venue in Haymarket, W1.
‘The four people – all female – received treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital; none of their conditions are life-threatening.
‘A fifth, person – a male – also came into contact with the substance but has declined hospital treatment.
‘The venue was closed as a precaution. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and there have been no arrests.
‘The Health and Safety Executive has been informed.’
Tiger Tiger has been open in Haymarket since 1998 and say they are a ‘staple of London’s nightlife scene’ on their website.
‘Tiger Tiger London offers a fantastic and wild night out, but more than just a night, a truly great experience that is guaranteed to get the appetite of anyone passing through its doors,’ the website read.