Trading standards officers in Coventry have welcomed the news that a consumer bill in the Autumn will have new provisions for the amount of froth than can be served in a pint.

A real pint could soon be on offer after a Government announcement saying that froth, instead of beer, could be outlawed.

Last year, a major survey of beer in pubs across the Midlands revealed that beer drinkers were not getting a full pint.

Trading standards officers found that eight out of 10 pints of beer bought in a survey did not contain a liquid pint. That matched national surveys by Camra, the Campaign for Real Ale.

The survey carried out in May 1999 - where 23 pubs in Coventry and another 120 in the West Midlands - showed that some people were losing more than five pence a pint.

And it showed that three per cent of the pints were more than 10 per cent short on beer.

The head of the beer is a mixture of air and liquid, which forms a froth. When a brim-measure glass is used to measure and serve a pint of beer with a head the results show a full liquid pint is rarely served.

Cllr John McNicholas, cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said:

“This is a capital offence and I am delighted that consumers will at last be able to sup a full pint of beer.

“Consumers should get a full pint of beer. Previous surveys show that short measure pints of beer remain a problem.

“The use of oversize glasses or meters would prevent any short measure. If there is too much head on a pint, a customer’s request for a top-up should never be refused."