Boozin’ Blog

In the past I’ve been rather impressed with the British for enforcing the proper pint. Law enforcement agents have actually gone out into the field (pubs) to make sure that the landlords were serving a full Imperial pint.

But such standardization can be taken too far. For example consider the case of Nic Davison. He owns a popular Polish restaurant. In addition to serving Polish food he serves Polish beer in Polish beer glasses. The problem is that these glasses are calibrated metrically so instead of serving beer by the pint he serves it by the half litre.

Despite the fact that this is clearly stated on the menu and the customers are apparently comfortable with the practice the government isn’t. The 1988 Weights and Measures Act states that beer must be sold by the pint and Jane Miller, director for neighbourhoods at the local council, is determined to see that the act is enforced.

Is Miller’s position salaried? If so, is this really the best way for her to be spending her time? Nevertheless, I expect that she’ll win this one unless Davison can successfully challenge the twenty year old law.

She obviously feels she’s right. In the chilling language of a practiced bureaucrat Miller says, “We want to help the restaurant owner get this right and are providing help and advice so they sell their beer in accordance to the law.”

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