Two-thirds of a pint: what next?

TIM FLETCHER

DRINKERS in Burton and South Derbyshire could soon be nipping down to the pub for 'a swift two-thirds', if new Government proposals get the go-ahead.

The National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) this week announced plans for changes in the law governing the measurement of food and drinks.

The plans include the introduction of a new two-thirds of a pint measure for draught beer and cider, in addition to the existing pint, half-pint and little-used one-third of a pint measures.

The new measure - dubbed a 'twother' and already common in Australia, where it is known as a 'schooner' - is aimed at 'boosting consumer choice', and could benefit those who cannot tackle a full pint but feel a half is too insubstantial.

The plans met with a mixed response among those in the beer and pub trade in Britain's brewing capital.

Bruce Wilkinson, founder of Burton Bridge Brewery, told The Mail: "I certainly won't be buying it - if I want a pint I'll have a pint and if I want a half, I'll have a half.

"Quite frankly, I think this is just a marketing gimmick and it's just another container for the landlord to have behind the bar.

"It's not needed, and I think there are a lot more things they could sort out like the cheap beer in supermarkets - where water is often more expensive than beer."

Burton and South Derbyshire CAMRA spokesman Nik Antona offered a more positive reaction to the plans.

"I haven't got a problem with it," he said.

"Anything to get more people going to the pub and drinking beer, in the current climate, has to be a good thing.

"It would extend choice and mean that maybe someone can go to a pub and try four different beers where normally they would only be able to afford three pints."

The two-thirds plan came as a surprise to the landlords The Mail spoke to, most of whom had not heard about the proposals.

Ian Griffiths, from The Plough, in Rosliston, said: "It doesn't matter one way or the other to us. You already have the one third of a pint measure and no-one ever orders it so it won't affect us."

Meanwhile, details of the plan came as news to Jean Holmes, licensee of The Great Northern, in Wetmore Road.

"It sounds like a bit of a stupid idea to me and I don't think there's any need for it," she said.

The Government proposals are currently subject to a consultation, with a final decision expected in the New Year.