Tests conducted by trading standards experts have revealed that beer drinkers are receiving only 96% of a pint on average because bar staff often fail to fill the glass properly.
Despite the head being legally included in the measurement, many beers fall short.
Wine lovers fare slightly worse, receiving just 95% of the size they order on average. These shortfalls, while seemingly minor, add up significantly over time, resulting in a loss of between £88 and £114 annually for the average drinker.
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According to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), seven out of ten drinks in UK pubs are poured short.
![Beer drinkers in British pubs are losing £114 annually due to under-poured pints, with tests showing 8 out of 10 pints are affected. The shortfalls add up, impacting consumers significantly.](https://needtoknow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Beer-Mugged-Sneaky-Tactic-in-British-Pubs-Costs-Drinkers-114-Annually-–-8-out-of-10-Pints-Affected-2.jpg)
The CTSI highlighted the need for improvement in ensuring customers get their money’s worth. “This is the first time that we have been able to build a national picture of how widespread short measuring of alcoholic drinks is,” they stated.
They also noted the lack of resources for spot checks and called on the hospitality sector to ensure accurate measurements.
In their study, the CTSI conducted 137 test purchases and found that 96 drinks were not filled to the proper measure.
Beer was more likely to be under-poured, with 86% of pints short, compared to 43% of glasses of wine. On average, drinks were missing 4% of their volume, and three out of ten were short by 5% or more.
Given that British pubs and bars sell over 26 million pints weekly—amounting to 1.4 billion a year—customers collectively lose millions of pounds.
With the average pint of beer costing £4.44 and a medium glass of wine £5.05, these shortfalls represent a significant financial impact.
Labour MP Jess Phillips, vice-president of the CTSI, voiced concerns: “The cost of living means people can hardly afford a drink, and to discover you’re being served short measures adds insult to injury. You should get what you pay for.”
Nik Antona, chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that consumers deserve full measures when supporting their favorite pubs, clubs, and taprooms. “The idea that 80% of all beer bought at the bar is being short measured in the UK is extremely concerning. You are well within your rights to ask the bar staff for an immediate top-up,” he advised.
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