UK wants larger glasses

[Cask]

This just in from today's Sunday Mirror. The figure of 200 million more "pints" being sold to customers each year than are bought from breweries is insane!

NEW GLASS MARKS TO END PINT RIP-OFF Apr 18 2004

By Stephen Hayward

GREEDY pub landlords are under pressure to bring in bigger beer glasses - so drinkers get a full pint.

Consumer watchdogs claim Britain's 15 million beer drinkers are being short-changed with foam instead of ale. They are backing moves to introduce new "over-sized" pint glasses capable of holding a full 20 fl oz of liquid as well as the frothy head.

The move follows a survey by trading standards chiefs which found that many pubs consistently serve pints with up to 10 per cent froth.

They claim pubs are raking in £130million a year by serving customers short measures and pouring millions of pints of froth.

Previous attempts to bring in legislation forcing pubs to give drinkers full measures have failed to reach the statute book despite the backing of the Government.

Now Labour MP Ian Pearson is challenging breweries and pub chains to introduce the pint-marked glasses to stop the froth being counted as part of a pint.

He said: "The industry might say that drinkers have the right to ask for their pint to be topped up. But where else do paying customers have to negotiate with staff to get what they have paid for? No other industry can get away with short-changing its customers so flagrantly."

Mr Pearson has written to Consumer Affairs Minister Gerry Sutcliffe calling on him to end the scandal.

Six years ago pub chain JD Wetherspoon introduced special large glasses to ensure a fairer deal. But they were scrapped because the company claimed it could not afford to continue the campaign alone.

The new glasses - capable of holding 22 fl oz - would have a line indicating the pint level to ensure customers get full measures.

National Audit Office figures show publicans sell about 200 million more pints a year than they buy in from brewers - amounting to that £130million of froth.

But Mark Hastings, of the British Beer and Pub Association, claimed many drinkers consider froth to be an essential part of a pint, not an optional extra. He said introducing larger lined glasses would cost the industry at least £365million, adding: "The idea is totally misconceived."

[the.brewer]

Amazing! It looks as if the British are finally figuring out how to deal with this one. Other (European) countries got it years ago.
Michael

[borderline_alcoholic]

Come on now, you can't expect the British to learn from the filthy continentals.