Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What are the legal risks of posting unauthorised promotional activity at transport hubs on social media?
Members discussed conducting unauthorised promotional sampling at tube platforms and the risk of posting evidence on Instagram. The key concern is visibility to transport authority enforcement teams (TfL in this case), which could trigger fines or enforcement action after the fact. **Key points from community experience:** - Members noted that they have "done outside tube stations before and never had a problem" — but crucially, they were uncertain whether they had "ventured onto the platform" itself, suggesting platform sampling is materially riskier than forecourt/external sampling - One member successfully avoided immediate fines during a platform sampling event, but remained uncertain about the downstream risk of posting photographic evidence on Instagram ("sense check we won't be walloped with a fine before posting") - The core risk is that social media posts create a permanent, searchable record that transport authorities can use to identify and fine operators retroactively, even if no enforcement action occurred on the day **Practical caveat:** Members did not provide a definitive legal answer or examples of fines incurred. The advice was largely anecdotal reassurance rather than legal guidance. Before posting, members should consider contacting TfL directly for explicit permission, or obtaining written approval from the transport hub operator — none of the excerpts mention this as a standard practice, but it would be the safest approach.
What are the risks of auto-renewal clauses in commercial supplier contracts and how should they be managed?
Auto-renewal clauses in supplier contracts pose a significant financial and legal risk if not carefully managed. Members have experienced situations where suppliers have enforced auto-renewals on unfavourable terms (sometimes for periods much longer than the original contract), then threatened legal action when the auto-renewed terms were refused. **Key risks and management strategies:** - **PHS Group case study** — One member signed a 2-year contract that included an auto-renewal clause, which the supplier invoked for a further 3 years without explicit agreement. The supplier then threatened legal action for breach when the renewal was refused. This illustrates how auto-renewals can lock you into extended commitments with escalating costs and unfavourable terms. - **Sneaky clauses** — Members warn that some suppliers embed auto-renewal language deep in contracts in ways that are easy to miss during initial review. Always scrutinise the full contract terms, not just headline items. - **Prevention approach** — Be "super careful with what you sign now"; review all renewal clauses before signing and ensure they match your business needs. If auto-renewal is unavoidable, confirm explicit opt-out deadlines and procedures in writing. - **Response to threats** — If a supplier threatens legal action over a disputed auto-renewal, internal escalation to your legal department (even as a holding response) is effective and removes the emotional element from the negotiation. **Key caveat:** Auto-renewal disputes can escalate to legal threats quickly. Having a clear contract review process and documented opt-out communications are your best protection.