Regulations to end sale of short pints

Pubs will have to serve a full liquid pint under new regulations to be passed by Easter 2001.

While the trade will be given two years to phase in oversized glasses where necessary, there is still confusion over exactly how the ruling will be enforced.

Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers confirmed a "100 per cent average" pint will be implemented by an amendment to the Weights & Measures Act, which will not require new legislation to be passed by Parliament.

This means that any beer with a head will have to be served in a glass big enough to hold a full pint of liquid as well as the frothy head. This covers most keg and cask bitters and stouts, and in some parts of the country customers also expect lager to be served with a head.

The confusion arises over exactly how a 100 per cent liquid "average" will be enforced.

The Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association's (BLRA) current guidelines suggest a 95 per cent liquid minimum to allow for the head, and it had lobbied the Department of Trade and Industry to adopt this in law.

CAMRA has always campaigned for a full pint, but had suggested a 97 per cent liquid minimum as a compromise.

A DTI spokeswoman said there would be a five per cent tolerance, but this was not the same as an average. "If a licensee serves one 95 per cent liquid pint, they wouldn't be prosecuted, but if they consistently served 95 per cent they would be," she added.

It would be left to trading standards departments to decide how to check the average in practice. The spokeswoman added that lined glasses will not be a legal requirement.

Tim Martin, chairman of pub chain JD Wetherspoon, condemned the approach as confusing and difficult to implement and enforce.

Martin is estimated to have lost £400,000 during two failed attempts to introduce oversized glasses.

Staff tended to overfill the glasses and the initiative proved unpopular with customers who mistakenly thought they were being given short-measures because the liquid did not reach the rim of the glass.

"Having tried it twice before I know that there is very little customer demand for this," said Martin.

"Most customers don't like oversized glasses. The government has been talking about reducing regulation and red tape, but keeps introducing needless regulations."

Mike Benner, head of campaigns and communications at CAMRA welcomed the move, claiming self regulation had not worked. "The industry's argument that a customer can always ask for a top up is ridiculous.

"It penalises the silent majority, and if you ask for a pint you should get it the first time," he said.