Hamish Champ: Responsible retailing? You're darn tootin'!

Not to put too fine a point on it, there's been a lot crap written on the subject of serving pub customers inappropriately-sized measures recently.

Like many media obsessions, the subject appears to have died down, but for a while back there you could have been forgiven for thinking the nation's bar staff were intent on turning us all into binge drinkers and alcoholics by serving wine in 250ml glasses, etc.

While I've no doubt some pubs turn a blind eye when the odd regular drinks too much, most handle the consumption situation professionally.

Then again, responsible retailing takes many forms. I encountered one variety of it last week. I was in a pub last week in Greenwich, South London, near my home, with some friends, one of whom was getting a round in. I ordered a pint of IPA.

Now this was the Greenwich Union, Alastair Hook's pub, he of the Meantime Brewery. Being familiar with Hook and his passion for brewing - and he was in my school, albeit three years below me - this was no ordinary IPA. This was IPA in all its 7.3 per cent ABV glory.

But my round-getting friend was finding buying the thing somewhat… problematic. He motioned me to join him at the bar. The barman wanted to make absolutely certain a pint was what I wanted. I told the man it was indeed. "Are you absolutely sure?" he asked again. I was slightly taken aback. Of course, I replied. Why not?

"Well, we get people in here and they might be driving, and think they can have a pint of IPA because they think it'll be the same strength as other IPAs," our man said. "But it isn't. So we just tell people who order it how strong it is and make sure they want a pint."

Having assured the man I wasn't driving and that I did indeed wish to consume a full pint of the stuff, he duly poured it.

When my friend returned to the table clutching our pints he told us the barman had made him swear not to get the drinks mixed up in case the wrong person drank the one containing the IPA.

My mates thought this was all highly amusing, but far from being miffed at the man's pedantry I was delighted that the staff of a pub were so fully versed in the product range they were paid to serve and the potential consequences of drinking it. And that they were willing forego a sale for the sake of the individual and the common good.

True, once I'd finished it I didn't back for another; I don't think I could have coped. But if I had I'm sure I would have been politely offered something else.

And that's what I call responsible retailing…