3 ms·

We’ve had laws requiring landlords to serve standardised pints the UK since 1698. This is not a new problem.

xnorswap 7mo ago
1985 is the current one: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/72/contents https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/72/contents It's why all bars will have a little plaque saying what size their shots are. Almost always 25ml these days, but 35ml was common in many places. You're allowed to serve shots of either size but not in the same pub. ( edit: Better link: https://www.gov.uk/weights-measures-and-packaging-the-law/specified-quantities https://www.gov.uk/weights-measures-and-packaging-the-law/sp... )
- maxbaines 7mo ago
  Great minds...
- graemep 7mo ago
  I did not know about the 35ml is OK too but not both on the same premises rule.
- tialaramex 7mo ago
  The way they got to the 25/ 35 split involves even more craziness. In England the law said spirits are always measured in sixths of a gill. This entire unit is obsolete, but 1/6 is a tiny bit less than 25ml. Fine. However in Scotland two sizes were common, a fifth of a gill (slightly more generous than England) and a "nip" or quarter of a gill (a lot more generous). If you're used to ordering a "nip" of something and now you get a lot less you'd be very angry! So the 35ml option is there for the kind of Scottish or Irish establishment which would have been used to these larger measures rather than either try to keep the gill (which is a stupid unit nobody else needs) or anger drunk people. I wouldn't be surprised if the "Make a sign" difference was to allow licensed premises to gradually shift to the more profitable, smaller, size. Maybe you change the place you own in Glasgow to 25ml first, and if the locals don't kick off you can try Aberdeen next, otherwise try again in a few years.
maxbaines 7mo ago
Agree this is a fact - we mark our glasses because of it. https://www.gov.uk/weights-measures-and-packaging-the-law/print https://www.gov.uk/weights-measures-and-packaging-the-law/pr...
philipwhiuk 7mo ago
I like the CAMRA ones which have the pint line below the rim of the glass. Because technically the head doesn't count as part of the pint and there's a lot of back-and-forth about what the legally acceptable amount of head really is (CAMRA say 0%, pub associations serve 5%, pubs themselves serve whatever they think you'll pay for).
- alexfoo 7mo ago
  > CAMRA say 0%, pub associations serve 5% That's a bit of an apples and oranges comparison. A real ale that CAMRA would be happy with rarely has any head at all whereas a generic lager may need a patient pour to keep it to just 5% head. Anyone asking for a Guinness with no head doesn't understand the drink they've ordered.
gib444 7mo ago
And they say England becoming low-trust is a recent change !
- badgersnake 7mo ago
  Faux-nostalgia ragebait gets clicks.
badgersnake 7mo ago
Found the original too: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Will3/11/15/enacted https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Will3/11/15/enacted

1985 is the current one: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/72/contents https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/72/contents It's why all bars will have a little plaque saying what size their shots are. Almost always 25ml these days, but 35ml was common in many places. You're allowed to serve shots of either size but not in the same pub. ( edit: Better link: https://www.gov.uk/weights-measures-and-packaging-the-law/specified-quantities https://www.gov.uk/weights-measures-and-packaging-the-law/sp... )

maxbaines 7mo ago
Great minds...
graemep 7mo ago
I did not know about the 35ml is OK too but not both on the same premises rule.
tialaramex 7mo ago
The way they got to the 25/ 35 split involves even more craziness. In England the law said spirits are always measured in sixths of a gill. This entire unit is obsolete, but 1/6 is a tiny bit less than 25ml. Fine. However in Scotland two sizes were common, a fifth of a gill (slightly more generous than England) and a "nip" or quarter of a gill (a lot more generous). If you're used to ordering a "nip" of something and now you get a lot less you'd be very angry! So the 35ml option is there for the kind of Scottish or Irish establishment which would have been used to these larger measures rather than either try to keep the gill (which is a stupid unit nobody else needs) or anger drunk people. I wouldn't be surprised if the "Make a sign" difference was to allow licensed premises to gradually shift to the more profitable, smaller, size. Maybe you change the place you own in Glasgow to 25ml first, and if the locals don't kick off you can try Aberdeen next, otherwise try again in a few years.

maxbaines 7mo ago

Agree this is a fact - we mark our glasses because of it. https://www.gov.uk/weights-measures-and-packaging-the-law/print https://www.gov.uk/weights-measures-and-packaging-the-law/pr...

philipwhiuk 7mo ago

I like the CAMRA ones which have the pint line below the rim of the glass. Because technically the head doesn't count as part of the pint and there's a lot of back-and-forth about what the legally acceptable amount of head really is (CAMRA say 0%, pub associations serve 5%, pubs themselves serve whatever they think you'll pay for).

alexfoo 7mo ago
> CAMRA say 0%, pub associations serve 5% That's a bit of an apples and oranges comparison. A real ale that CAMRA would be happy with rarely has any head at all whereas a generic lager may need a patient pour to keep it to just 5% head. Anyone asking for a Guinness with no head doesn't understand the drink they've ordered.

gib444 7mo ago

And they say England becoming low-trust is a recent change !

badgersnake 7mo ago
Faux-nostalgia ragebait gets clicks.

badgersnake 7mo ago

Found the original too: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Will3/11/15/enacted https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Will3/11/15/enacted