The Honest Pint Act

From the New Zealand Herald Sideswipe column:

"Lawmakers in Oregon recently passed the "Honest Pint Act" which would allow pubs and bars to display state-issued stickers proving that their pint glasses actually hold 16 ounces, as opposed to the 13- and 14-ounce glasses that some bars try to pass off as pints. The act is predicted to cost at least $20,000, not including the price of pint "measuring tools". No surprises that in England there is already a weights and measures law in place and that a British pint is 20oz. (Source: Freakonomics Blog, NYT)"

At last, a drinks law that makes good sense.....

Pippin: What's that?
Merry: This, my friend, is a pint.
Pippin: It comes in pints?
[In low voice]
Pippin: I'm getting one.

In good pubs in the UK it is not considered rude to ask to have your pint topped off if you are given a pour with excessive head. They have solved this problem in many continental European countries by putting a mark somwhere below the top of the glass (e.g. the 0.5L mark on a German hefeweizen glass).

Now in the UK too you will usually find a fill-level mark on beer glasses, and any beers with froth should be served in such a glass. I presume the older style glasses where you need to fill to the top are still around but I don't think I've seen one for a long time.

Incidentally, wine by the glass must be served in multiples of 125ml or 175ml, and the choice offered in bars is often 175ml or 250ml. Not so great if you want a glass of dessert wine, though many restaurants simply ignore the law!

[David M. Bueker]

Pippin: What's that?
Merry: This, my friend, is a pint.
Pippin: It comes in pints?
[In low voice]
Pippin: I'm getting one.

Sam: You've had a whole half already.