MEASURES OF PINTS OF BEER

Early day motion 331, tabled 7 December 2004 by Lord Bilston (Labour/Co-operative). Signed by 287 members.

That this House expresses concern at current proposals to define a pint of beer as not less than 95 per cent. liquid; notes that the Campaign for Real Ale, the Trading Standards Institute and the Local Authority Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services believe that this proposal will result in the proposed 5 per cent. tolerance being added to the existing deficiency threshold normally applied by enforcement agencies before considering prosecution action, which will result in licensees being able to serve pints of substantially less than 95 per cent. liquid; further notes that short measure costs consumers over ú400 million annually, HM Treasury over ú54 million annually in lost excise revenues and brewers ú133 million in lost beer sales; and therefore calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to protect consumers from short beer measures by defining a pint of beer as 100 per cent. liquid.

Signatures by party: Labour 181, Liberal Democrat 43, Conservative 35, Labour/Co-operative 17, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 3, UUP 3, DUP 1, Independent 1.