Research has shown that pints and wines are usually under-consumed as drinkers are urged to demand refills at the bar.
Around 70 per cent of orders are less than the prescribed quantity required by the Weights and Measures Order for pints, half-pints and 175ml glasses of wine, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) research shows.
Officers from the organization visited 77 pubs and bars and received 96 summary measures out of 137 orders.
Of the short measures, 41 were below five percent or more. About 86 percent of all beer ordered was too little, as was 43 percent of the wine.
The average deficit for limited-size beer was four percent, while for wine it was five percent.
For the average beer drinker this equated to a loss of £1.70 per week, or £88.40 per year, and for an average wine drinker in Britain this rose to £2.20 per week or £114.40 per year. years, according to the CTSI.
Topping up ‘is your right’
Nik Antona, the chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said consumers were “well within their rights” to ask for a top-up at the bar.
He said: “Consumers should not feel deprived when supporting their favorite pubs, social clubs and taprooms.
“The idea that 70 percent of all beer bought at the bar in Britain is undersold is extremely worrying.
“Anything that is short, and especially anything that is more than five percent short, you should ask the bar staff for an immediate top-up.
“You are well within your rights to do this, and staff must comply with this request.
“If you receive a negative response when you do this, please contact Trading Standards to report the incident.”
Trading Standards officials found the largest short measure was 15 per cent lower, found on a 175ml glass of wine in Walsall, with the drink costing £3.20.
The second largest deficit was 13.4 per cent lower, found in Belfast on a glass of wine costing £7.20, while the third largest deficit was 12 per cent and found on a 175ml glass of wine bought in Havering , East London, which cost 12 percent. £5.75.
A poll by the CTSI found that three times as many people under the age of 45 were in favor of bars and pubs being able to serve spirits without an alcohol measure, compared to people over 45.
The findings come at a time when the price of alcoholic drinks is at a record high.
The average price of a bottle of red wine has risen by eight percent in the past year, while the average price of a pint of lager has risen by 5.6 percent, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Legally speaking, the foam head of a pint of beer is included in the measure.
Short measurement ‘widespread’
The CTSI survey found that 35 percent of the public thought the cup should not be included in the pint measure, while 23 percent thought it should be.
John Herriman, CEO of CTSI, said: “While this is a snapshot in time, it is the first time we have been able to build a national picture of how widespread alcoholic beverage metering is, and the potential harm to the average consumer. A consumer of around £115 per year suggests that there is a need for more extensive research to better understand the impact of short measures, not just for alcoholic drinks but for a wider spectrum of consumer goods.
“Weights and measures play a key role in local authority trading standards, but at the moment we simply don’t have the resources to allocate this, or even the equipment to use, to carry out spot checks that ensure consumers get what they pay for.
“We are calling on the hospitality sector to ensure consumers get value for money by ensuring they correctly measure the drinks they serve to customers in the country’s pubs and bars, and for further research in this area.”