Make mine a full pint of ale!

Paul Rowen MP

Paul Rowen MP is demanding pubs serve full pints of beer and stop short changing customers.

Mr Rowen has signed a Parliamentary motion expressing concern that bar staff are legally permitted to sell a glass containing as little as 95 per cent liquid as a full pint of beer.

The early day motion claims the practice of selling short measures, whether intentionally or accidentally, costs drinkers £400 million every year.

The motion, signed by more than 40 MPs, supports a drive by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to push the Government to legislate for a pint to be defined as 100 per cent liquid.

CAMRA claims pints of beer are regularly served up to 10 per cent short and says beer drinkers do not have the same rights as other consumers.

While customers who buy a litre of petrol or a pint of milk can expect to receive the full measure of what they have paid for, it says, beer drinkers do not have a legal basis for complaint if they are served slightly less than a pint.

CAMRA, which has launched a petition calling on the Government to end short measures, said a survey it carried out found one in four pints were more than five per cent under measure.

It claimed short measures cost consumers £481 million a year - more than £1.3 million a day.

Mr Rowen said: “I believe that breweries and publicans need to give proper value for money.