New national research from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has found that more than two-thirds (70%) of beer and wine, checked by Trading Standards professionals, was short measured. The national fieldwork was undertaken by local authorities across the UK.
National fieldwork and new public polling found:
- 137 test purchases yielded 96 short measures, meaning approximately 70% of the test purchases were short measured.
- Out of the short measures, 41 were at a deficit of 5% or over — 29% of all the 137 drinks tested.
- When broken down between beer and wine, it was noted that 86% of beer was short measured while 43% of wine was found to be short measured.
- The average deficit for short-measured beer found in the survey was 4%, while for wine it was 5%. For the average beer drinker, this equates to a loss of £1.70 per week, or £88.40 per year, and for an average wine drinker in the UK this jumps to £2.20 per week and £114.40 per year.
- The largest short measure was a deficit of 15%, found on a 175ml glass of wine in Walsall, with the drink costing £3.20.
- The next largest short measures were a deficit of 13.4% found in Belfast, on a glass of wine costing £7.20, and the third largest deficit was of 12% and found on a 175ml glass of wine purchased in Havering, costing £5.75.
- New public polling from CTSI also found a generational divide with three times as many people aged under 45 supporting bars and pubs being able to pour spirits without a spirit measure, compared to those over 45 years old.
A short measure means that the beer or wine the customer receives is less than the prescribed quantity required by The Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order 1988. These quantities vary depending on the drink served, but include pints and half-pints for beer, and 175ml glasses for wine.
In addition to these issues with short measuring, there has been an ongoing discussion around whether a pint of beer should include the frothy head or not.
Legally, the head is included, however CTSI’s new public polling found that more than one-third of the public (35%) of 2,000 felt the head should not be included in the pint measure — higher than one quarter (23%) who believed the head should be included. The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) maintains that the pint measure should not include the head, and that consumers should have a right to a 100% liquid pint.
“While this is a snapshot, it is the first time that we have been able to build a national picture of how widespread short measuring of alcoholic drinks are,” said John Herriman, chief executive of CTSI.
“The potential detriment to the average consumer of around £115 every year suggests there is the need for more comprehensive research to better understand the impact of short measures, not just for alcoholic drinks but across a broader spectrum of consumer goods.
“Weights and measures is a key role for local authority Trading Standards, but right now we simply don’t have the resources to allocate, and even the equipment to use, to undertake spot checks that ensure consumers are getting what they pay for.
“We are calling on the hospitality sector to ensure that consumers get value for money by making sure they are correctly measuring the drinks they are serving to customers in the nation’s pubs and bars, and for further research in this area.”
Jess Phillips, Labour candidate for Birmingham Yardley, and CTSI vice-president, said: “The cost of living means people can hardly afford a drink. To discover you’re being served short measures adds insult to injury. A short measure cheats us all, but affects those worst off the hardest.
“Being able to afford to go out for a drink is not easy and you should get what you pay for. In this current climate, it is great to see this campaign from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute raising awareness of the important work of our Trading Standards profession.”
CAMRA chairman Nik Antona said: “Consumers shouldn’t have to feel short-changed when they support their favourite pubs, social clubs, and taprooms. The idea that 70% of all beer bought at the bar is being short measured in the UK is extremely concerning.
“CAMRA wants the government to make sure pubgoers have a legal right to receive a 100% liquid pint every time they are being served. This latest study is another worrying indication of an issue that has been affecting consumers for a number of years now and should hopefully provide a catalyst for change.
“For anything that is short measured, and particularly anything more than 5% short, you should ask the bar staff for an immediate top-up. You are well within your rights to do this, and the staff should comply and fulfil this request.
“If you get a negative reaction when you do this, you can get in contact with Trading Standards to report the incident.”
