Full liquid pint back on Government's agenda

by Tony Halstead

The trade is bracing itself for another attempt by consumer groups to force pubs to serve customers a full liquid pint.

The thorny issue of pintmeasures is back on the agenda thanks to a Government consultation document ahead of proposals to simplify weights and measures rules.

The revised regulations will seek to protect consumers against the sale of short-weight or measure foods and alcoholic drinks.

Although the Weights & Measures Consolidated Food Order is mainly concerned with packaged food and drink, the document has also been forced to address the sale of loose or draught drinks.

The Weights & Measures legislation currently allows a 5% "tolerance level" on draught pint measures.

A previous consultation paper, in 2002, saw the Department of Trade & Industry agree to legislation that measures of draught beer and cider comprise not less than 95% liquid after any collapse of the froth or head.

One of the biggest advocates of a full liquid pint, the Campaign For Real Ale, says it will be calling on the DTI to scrap the 95% ruling.

It is sticking by its previous stand that drinkers are entitled to get what they pay for and should be served a full measure pint.

Public affairs manager Jon-athan Mail said: "We will be re-stating what we have said on numerous occasions and our position has not changed."

But other trade bodies believe the 95% ruling has worked well, with few complaints being lodged by drinkers.

Federation of Licensed Vic-tuallers Associations chief executive Tony Payne said: "It is impossible to pull an exact pint measure and forcing licensees to try to do so would lead to over-measure.

"The 5% tolerance is designed to address any fluctuation."

British Beer & Pub Association director Martin Rawlings said the weights and measures review was bound to mean the pint measure issue re-surfacing.

"This has been doing the rounds for the past 20 years but our view is that it is best to leave it de-regulated.

"If drinkers are not happy with the measure they have been served, they are fully entitled to ask for a top-up," he said.

A DTI spokesperson said: "Interested parties are entitled to respond on the subject if they wish, after which ministers will decide the way forward on the whole of the document."