Birmingham ‘pint scam’ comes to a head

A “large restaurant chain” operating in Birmingham has been found to be serving pints in glasses that are 8.1ml too small, prompting a nationwide recall of the undersized glassware.

The discovery was first made by Birmingham City Council who launched an investigation following a “significant complaint” made to Birmingham Trading Standards. It found that a “large” restaurant chain was serving pints in undersized glasses.

As a result 41 glasses were recalled from two bars in the city ahead of wider, nationwide recall.

The council would not identify the restaurant chain or the glass supplier because the case did not result in a prosecution.

The recall occurred in November last year with details later published in the council’s regulation and enforcement annual report for 2017/18.

A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council commented: “It was referred to the relevant body to action and an audit was carried out.

“The supplier and retailer took corrective action to remove all the glassware from use and supply with immediate effect”.

The council’s report noted: “There was a significant complaint made about short measure beer at a large restaurant chain.

“Investigations found that a particular brand of glass had been made too small to contain a full pint.

“This prompted a nationwide recall of the glasses after large numbers were seized from two premises in Birmingham.”

Labour councillor Mile Leddy, a member of the Licensing and Public Protection committee, added: “To come between a man and his pint of beer is one thing, but to come between a man and his short pint of beer is another.

“I commend the department for finding that a number of pint glasses had been made too small, and therefore short measures were being made at certain licensed premises and the way that they instituted, not just a recall from Birmingham bars, but nationally as well”.