Trading Standards warn of short rations in city’s pubs and clubs.
Christmas revellers looking forward to nice drink in Milton Keynes could be missing out on a share of around £40,000 in beer and wine, MK City Council’s Trading Standards officers have warned.
Following a national Trading Standards investigation which revealed short measured drinks in UK pubs and bars cost the average consumer around £115 per year, MK’s Trading Standards office ran a local exercise – the first of its kind – to check if the city’s bar servings measured up.
And investigators found that a staggering 70% of the drinks checked came up short, some by more than 10%. Inspectors checked 10 medium glasses of wine and 10 pints of beer and found, on average, that wine was short by 6% and beer by 5%.
The cost of the ‘lost servings’ could add up to £39,690, if consumers each bought two short measured drinks in an MK pub or bar over the Christmas period, say inspectors.
The Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order 1988 sets out the legal obligations for selling alcohol. Although each business visited was advised of the investigation findings and given guidance, Trading Standards officers want city consumers to be aware of their rights when they’re out for a festive tipple.
Many glasses in pubs, bars and restaurants show a measuring line which consumers can judge the serving by. And if beer or wine looks more than 5% short, it’s fine to ask for a top up.
The frothy head of beer is legally part of the measure and may reasonably form up to 5% of a serving. But, if the head is too large – as it was in half of the short measured pints checked by Milton Keynes Trading Standards – drinkers are within their rights to ask bar staff for a top up.
“It’s absolutely right and fair to ask immediately and politely for a drink to be topped up if you think it falls short,” said Cllr Mick Legg, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services.
“It’s only the same as pointing out that you’ve been overcharged, which it effectively is. Our Trading Standards team have been giving advice to bar staff so fewer drinks get poured short, which brings more value for money for consumers this Christmas and beyond.”
If you continue to be short measured, get in touch with Milton Keynes Trading Standards, inspectors advise.
