AlanHo Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 MP demands full pint in new campaign Apr 6 2004 A Black Country MP is launching a fight to get a fair deal for Britain's beer drinkers - by insisting a pint should mean a pint.Present rules mean a pint of beer can consist of 95 per cent liquid and five per cent froth.But Ian Pearson, Labour MP for Dudley South, is backing a Campaign for Real Ale proposal to give drinkers a better deal.He said: "For too long beer drinkers have been short-changed by breweries."These companies have effectively been subsidised by the paying customer to the tune of around 5p in the pound. It's outrageous."He wants breweries and pub companies to introduce over-sized glasses with the capacity for a full pint plus the head, or have metered dispensers. Some companies already provide this service but Mr Pearson says the rest must follow suit.He said: "I am aware that the costs involved mean this cannot be achieved overnight, but a start must be made as soon as possible to make sure glasses can contain a full pint plus the head."No other industry can get away with short-changing its customers so flagrantly."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?"We spent around £19 billion on beer last year - it's nothing short of a scandal that we in effect gave back almost £1 billion of that to the breweries and pub operators through short measure."I know that the Campaign for Real Ale has been active in this area for some time." I hope my support will help to bring about an end to this legalised picking of drinkers' pockets."Trading standards officers have reported that 89 per cent of pints served in British pubs are less than 100 per cent liquid.And more than a quarter of all pints are less than 95 per cent full - the legal limit.But officials have admitted that pubs breaching the rules may not be prosecuted. The margin of error they allow means guilty pubs can slip through the net even if they sell as little as 92 per cent liquid.A previous attempt to introduce a law to ensure beer drinkers get full measure failed when Wolverhampton MP Dennis Turner's Bill was wrecked by maverick Tory Eric Forth, who made sure it ran out of parliamentary time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 I remember when I was a student , this little nugget appeared then ....One or two pubs down in the |Clifton area of bristol started serving line glasses which had room for a head ....But I used to be on the cider then so It was irrelevent..... Out of interest , why are we still served pints...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christmascracker Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 I thought they had already done this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Radfordin Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 I object more to the fact that 9 times out of 10 for a 'pint' of cola (or any other soft drink) costs £2. Most of the time it is of a very similar taste to water. If they really want to stop drink driving prices of soft drinks should be subsidised by the government.I would also like to see a change in culture where it is acceptable to drink plain tap water without looking like a cheapskate. I'd much rather drink water with a meal and there are only so many pints of 'coke' one person wants to drink in a night.As for your 5% of beer...then look on the bright side, it's 5% less of the nasty stuff you have to consume :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy-2004 Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Apparently of you were to have a big three course meal with countless amounts of vitamins and minerals and whatnot....and then you wash it down with a glass of coke....every single thing that was good far you in that was good for you in the meal...would be gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Radfordin Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Andy-2004 have you been taking everyone else's 5%s????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted April 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 It came as no surprise to me to find that this campaign has originated in the Midlands - in particular the Black Country.The beer in this region is so wonderful - being brewed by true artisans using yeast strains that originate in the mists of time - that every drop counts and it is a scandal to not get the full measure of the local nectar.In other parts of the country where the beer is so awful - it probably is somewhat of a relief not to have to drink a whole pint of the concoction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 Out of interest , why are we still served pints...?When we adopted the metric system it was decided at the time that it would not only be too costly to insist on decimal measures for beer, there would also likely be a revolution. At the same time milk delivered to the doorstep was still permitted in pint bottles. I agree that legislation to compel pubs to give a full pint is long overdue.Regarding the price of soft drinks in pubs and restaurants, this is an absolute scandal, especially when things like coke and lemonade are no longer the real thing out of a bottle. This syrup stuff which is topped up with fizzy water is disgusting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moon Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 As for your 5% of beer...then look on the bright side, it's 5% less of the nasty stuff you have to consumeLook on the even brighter side. You can feed your roses with the other ninety-five. :D (Sir R, I'll put it to me mates to make you an honourary Aussie :) ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Radfordin Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 (Sir R, I'll put it to me mates to make you an honourary Aussie :) )I'm not sure if that is an honour or not??? :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moon Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 I'm not sure if that is an honour or not???Have some XXXX. It'll clear your head. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir T Fireball Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 why are we still served pints...?Should we campaign for Litre glasses B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 why are we still served pints...?Should we campaign for Litre glasses B) NO WAY. I've drunk out of them in Germany. Toward the end of the evening they start to feel heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moon Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 Toward the end of the evening they start to feel heavy.Yeah, I've noticed that. I keep having to hoist me strides. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Besty Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 A pint of guiness a day is good for your heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 A pint of guiness a day is good for your heart.I won't offer any argument to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 Im up for litres too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir T Fireball Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 Im up for litres tooYou trying to cut down on the intake :o :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Besty Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 You could get drunk more often as you would use the excuse just one more or another couple wont hurt :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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