HL Deb 28 October 1993 vol 549 cc101-2WA
Lord Gainford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they plan to make a statement on the Department of Trade and Industry review of policy on Section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 relating to froth on beer and cider.

Viscount Goschen

On 29th March the then Minister (the honourable member for Gainsborough and Horncastle) announced (Official Report, cols. 50–51) that, as part of the Government's deregulation initiative, the Department of Trade and Industry was reassessing the costs and benefits of the implementation of Section 43 and that interested parties had been asked to provide information relevant to this reassessment.

We have now completed our reassessment of the Commencement Order which was made last year and which would bring Section 43 into force from next April. After reviewing the costs of complying with the order and considering the views of consumers, enforcement authorities and business, we have concluded that these costs are disproportionate to the consumer benefits. They would include the cost to licensees of replacing brim measure glasses with new lined glasses or installing meters. It was also clear from the consultations that in most cases the costs of extra beer would be passed on to consumers, with price increases amounting to about 7p a pint in pubs now using brim measures.

Accordingly the Commencement Order has today been revoked, thus allowing the continuation of the existing case law that a pint of beer may consist of liquid and a reasonable head. We will also bring forward, as soon as parliamentary time permits, legislation to repeal Section 43.

I understand that the Brewers' Society is issuing revised guidance to its members on the dispense of draught beer. It will say that a pint of draught beer with a head should contain a minimum of 95 per cent. liquid. This guidance is issued in conjunction with organisations representing licensees. Trading standards officers will be able to refer to the guidance in court cases about short measure and the courts can be expected to give reasonable weight to it.

If customers are unhappy with the amount of liquid beer they have received they are able to ask for, and should get, a top-up. The Brewers' Society's revised guidance will state that such requests should always he received with good grace.