Beer drinkers determined for foamy head pints to be banned by new authorities

Consumer organisations are calling on the next government to change legislation to stop drinkers being short-measured at bars and pubs.

At present, industry guidance says the measure of beer served with a foamy head must include a minimum of 95% liquid. However, the Campaign for Real Ale said it wants whoever wins the election on July 4 to introduce a legal right for pubgoers to receive a 100% liquid pint every time they are served – so the head not being included within this.

Last month, an investigation by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute found 86% of beer was short measured, with the average deficit 4%. For the average beer drinker, this equates to a loss of £1.70 per week or £88.40 per year, CTSI said.

When discounting the industry standard 5% head, CTSI still found around a third of the beers it sampled for the study were short measured. Speaking at the CTSI conference in Leeds yesterday (June 18), Camra director of real ale, cider and perry campaigning Gillian Hough said: “This latest study is another worrying indication of an issue that has been affecting consumers for a number of years now and this should hopefully prove a catalyst for change.”

Ms Hough said more people than ever are drinking at home or friend’s houses, where they may feel they are receiving better value for money. She added: “We need to give people back that confidence to go to the pub. We want the next government a legal right for pubgoers to receive a 100% liquid pint every time they are served. We will be pursuing this as soon as the next government is in place.”

Ms Hough added enshrining a 100% liquid pint in law would give consumers a guarantee that they were getting what they paid for when supporting local pubs and breweries. Monday (June 17) marked the 200th anniversary of the 1824 Weights and Measures Act, which defined the British pint.

The average price of a pint in the UK is now £4.80 according to the British Beer and Pub Association, a 13% increase on a year ago.
With prices creeping up, more than ever consumers will be looking for value for money when they drink in pubs. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: “Beer is carbonated and is typically sold with a foamy head although there is considerable difference between consumer preference for the head that different beers naturally produce. Customers who would like less of a head should always feel free to ask for a top up and should never be refused.”

The BBPA said around £1.52 of the average cost of a pint goes straight to the Government in tax, with pubs only able to make 12p in profit when other charges as operating costs are factored in. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has promised to help stricken pubs should Labour win the upcoming election.

Measures include business rates being replaced with a fairer system and new ‘right to buy’ powers given to communities to help save pubs. Ms Reeves also hinted a beer duty freeze could continue under Labour. It comes as new data showed around 80 pubs a month shut permanently in the first quarter of this year.

The closures were up 56% from the same period in 2023, analysis by Altus Group found.