- New beer mats can be held against pint glass to see if liquid or head is too short
- London Trading Standards are also sending out ‘mystery drinkers’ as part of test
- Authorities want drinkers to help catch out pubs who serve stingy measures
Beer mats are being handed out to pub-goers to encourage them to ask for a top-up if the pint they are poured is too short.
Trading Standards are trying to crack down on short measures to make sure bars, pubs and clubs are sticking to the rules when it comes to how much they serve.
Experts are encouraging pint-drinkers to call out bar staff and ask for their drink to be poured a second time if they think they’re being stingy.
In a bid to help catch pubs out breaking the rules in London, beer mats are being handed out that can be held against pint glasses to check drinks are the right size.
Trading Standards are encouraging pint-drinkers to call out bar staff and ask for their drink to be poured a second time if they think they’re being stingy
In a bid to help catch pubs out breaking the rules in London, beer mats are being handed out that can be held against pint glasses to check drinks are the right size
The Weights and Measures Act 1985 controls the prescribed quantities draught beers should be sold in, but there has always been a grey area over whether the head should be included as part of the pint.
Industry body the British Beer And Pub Association says a pint should contain a minimum of 95 per cent liquid and five per cent head.
Authorities in the City of London in particular are keen to make sure drinkers know their rights and will be carrying out test purchases in the coming months.
They also want pub-goers to let them know if they are refused a top-up or get a negative reaction when they ask for one.
Industry body the British Beer And Pub Association says a pint should contain a minimum of 95 per cent liquid and five per cent head
Steve Playle, Trading Standards manager at the City of London Corporation, said: ‘Consumers are well within their rights to make sure they get exactly what they’ve paid for.
‘It’s worth remembering that for a pint costing £5, a shortage of five per cent is a 25p cost to the consumer.
‘Drinkers are entirely within their rights to ask for a full pint of liquid if they wish.
‘We are reminding people that it is perfectly okay to ask for a top-up whilst stressing that they should continue to drink responsibly.’
City of London Corporation Trading Standards has already written to all pubs throughout the square mile to remind them of their legal obligations and to encourage that people with drinking problems are referred to alcohol support services.