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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made by her Department of (a) the retail and (b) wholesale cost of beer and cider not served to consumers owing to short measures in the last 12 months. [25883] Ms Hewitt: I have today announced proposals to strengthen consumer protection against short-measure draught beer and cider. Under the proposals bar staff would have to serve a minimum of 95 per cent. liquid per pint. If consumers are dissatisfied with 95 per cent. they can request a top-up. The Government will work closely with the beer trade to ensure that consumers are fully aware of their rights, including pubs displaying signs that consumers can ask for a top-up at no extra cost if they are dissatisfied with their pint. The Department estimates that the total wholesale cost of draft beer and cider not served to consumers owing to short measures amounts to some £130 million a year at 2001 wholesale prices. This is based on sales of 6.6 billion pints a year, taken together with the results of surveys by local authority trading standards departments which show that 20 per cent. of pints were 100 per cent. liquid or more, 60 per cent. were between 95 per cent. and 99 per cent. liquid and 20 per cent. of pints were below 95 per cent. liquid. The retail value of this under-supply will depend on retail prices in particular establishments but will exceed the wholesale value.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

25883; 382 c77W;382 c75W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Consumers Alcoholic drinks Costs Beer Cider Measurement Retail trade Wholesale trade

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk