Pint
April 28, 2008
United Kingdom law requires certain steps be taken to ensure that a pint of beer is indeed a pint. Though this can be achieved using so-called “metered dispense” (calibrated pumps), the more common solution is to use certified one-pint glasses. Until recently these had a crown stamp and number etched upon them, however EU directives have stated that the glasses instead now, must have PINT with the letters CE etched on them, for synchronisation in the European Union (although the Conservatives have campaigned to have dual markings of crown and CE). The number relates to the authority certifying the capacity of the glass. Selling beer in unmeasured glasses without using some other form of calibrated measure is illegal. Half-pint and one-third pint glasses are also available, and are subject to the same laws. UK law currently prescribes that a pint serving of beer must be at least 95% liquid.
Despite this emphasis on accurately measured glasses, it is common for drinkers to be served less than a full pint of liquid – either because too much of the glass is taken up by a foamy “head”, or simply because the customer has been sold a short measure. This allows publicans (who are often under pressure from a management company) to “sell” more beer than is actually in the cask or keg and hence save money. At present, those selling “pints” up to ten percent short will not be prosecuted in the UK.
For those wishing to avoid this practice while still serving beer with a large head, “lined” or “oversized” glasses are available. These have a line near the top (usually labelled “pint to line”) to which the beer should be poured, with the head forming above it. In the past a number of breweries supplied these glasses to their pubs; this is now rarely the case and lined glasses are found mostly at enthusiasts’ events such as beer festivals, serious cask ale pubs, and breweries’ own bars. The use of lined pint glasses in pubs is advocated by the Campaign for Real Ale.
The number refers to the Weights & Measures Authority in the area where the glass was stamped/manufactured.
6 Birmingham
76 Manchester
116 Buckinghamshire
234 Lancashire
236 Gwent
303 West Yorkshire
366 Hereford & Worcestershire
371 Sandwell
414 Derbyshire
478 St Helens
562 Bury
883 West Sussex
1110 Kingston-on-Thames
1207 Sheffield
1535 Waltham Forest
1545 Warwickshire
2037 and 2043 are in a series allocated to “trusted” glass suppliers who are given their own numbers
