Article on UK Pubs, sort of makes me thirsty. I like the following quote, but heavens, you couldn't have this happening!!
<g> Nat >>> "However we have to enforce the law. If we make an exception in this case it would set a precedent and we would have pubs up and down the country demanding the right to be able to serve their drinks in half-litres and litres." >>> 2002 The Press Association Limited Press Association October 9, 2002, Wednesday SECTION: HOME NEWS LENGTH: 366 words HEADLINE: 'METRIC' LICENSEE TOLD: YOU'RE BREAKING THE LAW BYLINE: Owen Fairclough, PA News BODY: The licensee of an Austrian-style pub was today preparing to replace her traditional flutes and steins with conventional pint glasses after falling foul of Britain's weights and measures laws. Andrea Schutz, who runs the Cardinal's Hat in Worcester, has been told by trading standards officers that she must serve beers from her native country in half-pint and pint glasses rather than half-litre and litre measures. Unlike most other goods which have to be served in metric quantities to comply with European regulations, drinks poured from a pump must still be in imperial measures. Mrs Schutz, who took over the historic pub two months ago, said she would comply with the law rather than face prosecution, but intends to take the matter to the European Parliament to defend her right to use steins and flutes, which connoisseurs say are integral to the flavour of the beer. Mrs Schutz said: "The customers love the fact that we serve our beer in flutes and steins because it is part of the appeal of drinking in an Austrian bar. "Some of them have told me they will buy their own flute and steins and ask me to serve their beer in them." Mrs Schutz, who imports four varieties of Austrian beer, added: "I have contacted family in Austria who are going to look at the possibility of taking this to Brussels to see if we will be able to continue using flutes and steins. "But this will take months and months, I imagine, and I am sure they have more important things on the agenda than beer. "We will use pint glasses because we do not want to be prosecuted, but it is a shame and I think it's a crazy situation." John Dell, of Worcestershire trading standards department, conceded the legislation governing alcoholic drinks was "bizarre" given that bottled drinks in pubs were all served in metric measures. Mr Dell added: "It must be one of the only situations where we enforce imperial measures and we have some sympathy with the pub in question. "However we have to enforce the law. If we make an exception in this case it would set a precedent and we would have pubs up and down the country demanding the right to be able to serve their drinks in half-litres and litres."
