Trade reacts angrily to MP proposal to target short beer measures
MPs have launched a controversial campaign to stop pubs serving less than a full liquid pint.
A Commons motion, sponsored by Labour MP Joan Walley, was tabled earlier this week. It reads: "We consider that when ordering a pint measure, beer and cider drinkers should receive a full liquid pint without having to ask for a top up."
But the trade has once again reacted angrily to the proposal, claiming a full pint law would be impractical and cost thousands of pounds to implement.
Ms Walley quoted new research which showed 77 per cent of voters back the introduction of laws to make sure they get a full pint every time.
The research, which was conducted by consumer group the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), discovered only four per cent of the 1,000 people asked would not support Government proposals to force licensees to serve a 100 per cent liquid pint.
Ms Walley said: "These results show overwhelming support for the Government's proposals to introduce new laws to protect beer drinkers from short measures. I look forward to these proposals being introduced as soon as possible."
But Mark Hastings, spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), said: "There isn't any consumer demand for this law. All this is going to do is heap more red tape and further costs on already beleaguered publicans."
In December last year the Government announced it was to introduce the proposals to strengthen consumer protection against short measures.
They included:
- a pint to be defined as 100 per cent liquid, including the head of froth but excluding the gas in the head
- licensees to serve 100 per cent liquid on average and never less than 95 per cent
- frothier beers and ciders to be served in lined glasses or from metered dispensers, and
- brim measure glasses only to be used for less frothy drinks.
But although the proposals were looked into, the issue was overshadowed by other, more pressing, concerns. According to CAMRA, Midland brewer Wolverhampton & Dudley already guarantees full liquid pints in more than 1,000 pubs.
But the majority of the trade believe a new pint law would cost as much as £500m including new glassware and beer lost through overfilling.
Pub company JD Wetherspoon tried twice to introduce lined glasses at an estimated cost of £400,000.
The company found staff tended to overfill glasses and customers believed they were being given short measures and so re-introduced rim glasses - which cost a further £200,000.
The BBPA issues guidelines for publicans which suggest that a minimum 95 per cent liquid pint, with top-ups on demand, should satisfy customers.
The Government, which has not yet set a time frame for the introduction of the proposals, suffered embarrassment earlier this year when its Small Business Service claimed legislating on the full pint issue was unnecessary.
Related stories:
Government breaks liquid pint promises says CAMRA (5 June 2001)
Industry full pint research may sway liquid pint debate (2 May 2001)
Europe delay hits full-pint proposal (19 April 2001)
Full-pint protesters head to Number 10 (23 March 2001)
Labour is split over pint issue (19 March 2001)
Despite many previous attempts, the 100 per cent liquid debate goes on (14 March 2001)
Full pint law may finish handpumps (29 January 2001)
Full pint law faces the axe (22 January 2001)
Regulations to end sale of short pints (11 December 2000)