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Full Measures National Campaign Week
September the 4th sees the launch of the Campaign for Real Ale's
'Week of Action' to concentrate on full pints for consumers. The
government is about to issue a new consumer White Paper and there
have already been noises made about 'guaranteeing that the consumer
receives a full pint' though the method by which this will be ensured
has not yet been specified.
Mike Benner, CAMRA Head of Campaigns takes up the issue.
'We are of course discussing the options with the DTI to make sure we
get a fair deal which will stop consumers getting ripped off and we
will give Trading Standards Officers a clear way to prosecute offending
pubs. Clearly we want to stop short measures and make sure pubs who
consistently serve them are made to stop but we do not want to affect
the level of investment in marginal pubs, or see prices rise unduly.
We also do not want to see pubs replacing hand pumps with metered
dispense as this will not help in the promotion of real ale.'
In north London we have seen the few establishments that were still using
oversized lined glasses forced to stop the practice, due to competition.
Such establishments cannot afford to be 'beacons' when 99.9% of pubs use
brim measure glasses and get 'more pints from a barrel', some presumably
by 'short-measuring'.
The brewing industry understandably wants to maintain the status quo and
adopt a 'do nothing' stance. They talk of supporting 'current best practice'
of ensuring 'at least 95% liquid' in a brim measure 20 fl.oz glass.
Unfortunately, CAMRA experience has shown that this is not the practice
in all too many establishments.
How important is this issue in north London pubs? What do you think? Let
us know.
Write to the next edition of 'The Full Pint' where we will be launching
the our 'Your Shout' letters page.
Reproduced from the Full Pint, Issue 1.
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