The Government has announced that draught beer in pubs will be able to be sold in two-third pint glasses, sometimes known as "schooners".

Multiples of pints

The measure, along with others enabling pubs to sell measures of wine smaller than 125ml, will be introduced through a statutory instrument which will be laid before Parliament in the coming months. Currently draught beer can only be sold in third of a pint, half a pint, pint or multiples of half and a pint measures. 

Science Minister David Willets said that the Government wanted to offer flexibility and scrap laws banning certain measures of drink being sold. 

CAMRA comments

Opinions on the relaxation of the permitted beer measures on CAMRA's facebook page,www.facebook.com/campaignforrealale, have varied from the laudatory to the dismissive: 

"Good idea particularly for stronger beers such as barley wine." 

"As long as it's introduced as a new measure and not a replacement to the trusty old pint, then I don't mind" 

"A headache for pubs with more glasses to stock and with a busy pub and a large round of drinks, easier for the barperson to make a mistake on the till." 

"NO NO NO! Please CAMRA has to step in! the pint has been the backbone of human recreation for centuries! Tax, tax and more tax, our cherished pint is becoming more and more unobtainable!"