A common practice of underpouring pints costs the average drinker up to £114 a year, research has found.
Some eight out of 10 pints poured across British pubs are underfilled, according to Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) secret shopper tests.
Beer drinkers typically only get 96% of each pint they purchase, the research found, while wine glasses are just 95% filled with punters’ orders.
Such underpouring collectively adds up and costs the average UK drinker between £88 and £114 a year.
The Campaign for Real Ale dubbed the figures “extremely concerning”, while the CTSI said there was “work to be done” in ensuring customers got what they paid for.
“This is the first time that we have been able to build a national picture of how widespread short measuring of alcoholic drinks is,” the group said.
“We are calling on the hospitality sector to ensure customers are getting value for money by correctly measuring the drinks they are serving in the nation’s pubs and bars.”