CAMRA's pint row reaches House of Commons

The latest debate over the introduction of a law making it compulsory for licensees to serve a 100 per cent liquid pint has reached the House of Commons.

Consumer group the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has launched a series of posters aiming to get pub-goers involved in the controversial issue.

It unveiled the posters to MPs at a special reception in the Commons last week, prompting Labour MP Kevin Brennan to bring up the subject in a debate.

Mr Brennan, who represents Cardiff West, asked: "Will my right honourable friend make time to introduce legislation on the continuing scandal of short measures of pints of beer in our pubs?

"Is he aware of the recent research conducted by CAMRA which shows that nine out of 10 pints being served in England and Wales are short measures and that things are getting worse? Over the past three years the number of short measures being served has increased by 10 per cent."

Leader of the House, Robin Cook, replied: "My honourable friend raises a matter of great concern to the public and to many members of this House. Any short measure is a clear public scandal and I assure my honourable friend we will seek to bear down as hard as we can."

The new research, referred to by Mr Brennan, was conducted for CAMRA and revealed at the launch of the campaign.

It estimates a 10 per cent rise in the number of pints being served with less than 100 per cent liquid, compared to 1997, when the last survey took place.

The research, which was based on information from trading standards officers in 21 local authorities, also discovered:

• 89.4 per cent of pints contain less than 100 per cent liquid
• more than one in four (27.7 per cent) pints contain less than the industry's guidelines of 95 per cent liquid.

CAMRA is calling on the Government to honour its 1997 election promise and introduce a full pint law. But the trade is against such a move saying it could lead to higher prices as licensees are forced to cover the cost of new glassware and wasted beer.

The CAMRA initiative has been actively dismissed by the industry. Mark Hastings, spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association, said: "The Government watchdogs and regulators clearly don't think a law is necessary and the number of MPs concerned has dropped by 66 per cent in a year.

"We have been briefing them on the reality of the situation. What we need is a common sense approach. Putting the 95 per cent guidelines into law is probably the best way forward."