Drawing the line at a pint

WHEN is a pint not a pint? When Government bureaucrats get involved.

East Sussex Trading Standards officers are joining colleagues across the UK to criticise a proposal from the Department of Trade and Industry that 95 per cent of liquid should become the new statutory minimum for a full pint of beer or cider.

The move follows talks between brewers, consumer groups and local authorities after the Government gave a commitment to outlaw short-measure beer.

Research showed that more than eight out of 10 sales of draught beer or cider are less than a full pint.

Cllr Meg Stroude, lead member for legal and community services, said: 'The Government has promised to clarify the law to prevent short measure and at one stage was going to introduce line measures.

'But industry pressure and threats of increased costs to customers seem to have persuaded them to take a softer line.'

Dave Marshall, head of East Sussex Trading Standards, said: 'There is a very simple answer to this problem introduce line glasses so that customers can get a full pint of liquid.

'It seems the DTI wants to cave in to industry pressure and threats of price increases.

'We think it will be a sad day if a pint legally becomes 95 per cent of a pint!'

l Campaign for Real Ale members have this year been using line-marked glasses at their Sussex beer festivals. There have been no complaints!