Pint rights – official MSE blog discussion

MSE_Kelvin

Hey forumites,

I've written a blog on how to make sure you get the most beer for your money.

"Sadly, under-filled pints aren't uncommon ... Yet you're entitled to ask for a top-up should this happen, something many drinkers don't know – so to help, I've done some digging into your pint rights and how to make sure your glass is way more than half full..."

Read the full blog here: Pint rights: How to make sure you get the pint you paid for

Let me know what you think of it, and please share any tales you have of being served pints that looked more like an ice cream or that you needed a ladder to climb down to.

Cheers,

MSE Kelvin

k3lvc

MSE_Kelvin wrote: »

'Some drinkers sadly put up with under-filled pints as they don't know that they can ask for a top-up. So to help, I've done some digging into how to make sure you get the pint you paid for.'

Read MSE Kelvin's full blog: 'Pint rights'

Ooh the irony that this sits in the Marriage, Relationships & Families forum :rotfl:

MSE_Kelvin

Good shout @k3lvc - I've moved the thread to the Consumer Rights board.

onomatopoeia99

I've found pubs these days tend to be good about ensuring the glass is full to the line and it's many years since I've seen any using a 20fl oz glass for a pint, most have 21 or 24 fl oz glasses with lines and ensure the liquid reaches the line.

Talking about hand-pumped beer, not things served under CO2 pressure.

NBLondon

The only place I can remember asking for a top-up was the Old Brewery Greenwich which is a bit touristy and trying to be hipstery - the head was below the line. The barperson took a bit of umbrage but I hadn't paid so I stood my ground.

[Deleted User]

"...you're entitled to a full pint of liquid plus head..."

My goodness. That's an exceptional deal.

I think I must be going into the wrong sort of pub.

Twopints

Deleted_User wrote: »

"...you're entitled to a full pint of liquid plus head..."

My goodness. That's an exceptional deal.

I think I must be going into the wrong sort of pub.

I'll have 2.

:beer:

DoaM

Deleted_User wrote: »

"...you're entitled to a full pint of liquid plus head..."

I think I must be going into the wrong sort of pub.

Must be one of those specialist pubs where you can also get a massage.

Takmon

MSE_Kelvin wrote: »

'Some drinkers sadly put up with under-filled pints as they don't know that they can ask for a top-up. So to help, I've done some digging into how to make sure you get the pint you paid for.'

That makes no sense who could possibly think you can't ask for a top up if your not happy with it? What if they only fill up the glass a quarter full do they think they have to just accept it because they can't ask :rotfl:

bbungay

Nearly every pint has a different head due to the type of beer or the quality. So every beer 'glass' should have a line indicating a pint and another for half a litre with space above for the head (no need to specify the height). The beer (not the head) should reach the line that it has been advertised and priced for.

milkohastings

I think those in the North prefer a beer with a good head and publicans use a spigot on the nozzle to create a head. In the South publicans remove these causing beer to come out unrestricted. The only foam is that which is released from the beer. Pint to line glasses are quite rare in the South and common in the North. I think too many publicans pour a short pint in the South and rely on customers asking for a top up. This is embarrassing for some. I always ask. Experiments have shown that a one biro (bic) width of beer short of the top of a "pint 2043" glass is in fact 2 FL oz ( or 10%) short. That is 38 p on a £3.80 pint. My experience is that many pubs don't initially fill even to this level. 2 biro width short is 3 FL oz short. The 2043 is a " straight glass" which tapers from top to base. Those of a certain age would call it an "Andy Capp" glass. Smooth and straight sides with no indentations. Weights and measures no longer check pub measures I suspect.