TRADING standards officers in North Yorkshire are toasting an announcement, which should ensure beer drinkers get fair measure.

Whether a pint of beer should include the froth has been a vexed question for more than 30 years, since it was decided that a pint of Guinness included a creamy head, because without it the drink would not be the same.

That decision was extended to include all draught beers. There is a code of practice, which indicates that a head equivalent to a five per cent deficiency is acceptable, but surveys show the guideline is often flouted.

An announcement by Stephen Byers, Minister for Trade and Industry, aims to ensure people get fair measure, by the use of marked glasses.

Stuart Pudney, head of trading standards and regulatory services in North Yorkshire, said: "By using larger glasses, licensees can serve a full pint of liquid and still have room for a head on top. Licensees who use glasses which hold exactly one pint to the top are taking an unfair advantage of customers.

"With beer selling at £2 a pint, a deficiency of only five per cent is equivalent to an extra 10p, and a ten per cent deficiency amounts to 20p.