Is it a pint? • Hacker News Board

Re: Is it a pint?

#31

Post by luplex » Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 4:41 PM UTC

bombcar wrote: post #3

In the EU I noticed lots of glasses had markings on the side - if it was full to the line, it was a pint (or liter or whatever). McDonalds cups have a line for ice.

and crucially, foam has to be above the line.

There is some back and forth around whether it's legal to serve beer in traditional ceramic steins, where customers can not verify that the foam really starts above the line.

As I understand, it is legal in Germany, but only if there is visible signage that informs customers about their right to pour their beer into a marked standard glass to check the amount. Source (German): https://www.abendblatt.de/incoming/article402102835/wer-hat-...

In 1899, an association was formed in Munich to combat fraudulent pouring. It was banned by the Nazis and re-formed in 1970. They went around and measured beers. This post is its spiritual successor. German: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verein_gegen_betr%C3%BCgerisch...

Re: Is it a pint?

#32

Post by loeg » Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 4:41 PM UTC

ch_123 wrote: post #14

In the UK and Ireland, a pint is 20 oz. (equivalent to just over 19 US ounces), so I always feel cheated by 16 oz. "pint" glasses in the US.

It's not completely uncommon to be offered 16 oz or 20 oz as options in the US. But I see it more at "fast casual" restaurants than bars or more upscale restaurants.

Re: Is it a pint?

#33

Post by arkensaw » Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 4:42 PM UTC

lucideer wrote: post #8

Waterluvian wrote: post #5

In Canada (and I’m sure elsewhere) there are surprise inspections where government inspectors show up at petrol stations and see if the pump actually gives you what it claims. I volunteer for the pub equivalent of this.

I don't know if other companies do this anywhere but if you live in Ireland. Diageo have roles for people to travel around the country doing precisely this.

ah yes, the guinness vans, I do often see them out and about

Re: Is it a pint?

#34

Post by vlod » Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 4:43 PM UTC

ch_123 wrote: post #14

In the UK and Ireland, a pint is 20 oz. (equivalent to just over 19 US ounces), so I always feel cheated by 16 oz. "pint" glasses in the US.

Also in the US (probably due to lack of training and the customer too embarrassed to complaining) tend not to fill it the brim (and so not even 16''). I've seen 2-3 inch heads and asked them to top it up. They look at me as if I've just insulted George Washington.

Re: Is it a pint?

#35

Post by tveita » Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 4:45 PM UTC

bombcar wrote: post #3

In the EU I noticed lots of glasses had markings on the side - if it was full to the line, it was a pint (or liter or whatever). McDonalds cups have a line for ice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fill_line

Selling drinks in mislabeled containers should warrant a fraud report to your local consumer protection agency. A crowdsourcing app seems like the wrong tool here.

Re: Is it a pint?

#36

Post by cjs_ac » Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 4:47 PM UTC

dghf wrote: post #29

ch_123 wrote: post #14

In the UK and Ireland, a pint is 20 oz. (equivalent to just over 19 US ounces), so I always feel cheated by 16 oz. "pint" glasses in the US.

This is why I get agitated when Americans claim to use imperial units. If they did, their pints would be the correct size.

Americans don't claim to use imperial weights and measures; they use customary weights and measures, which were also used in the UK prior to the creation of imperial units with the Weights and Measures Act 1824.

Re: Is it a pint?

#37

Post by consp » Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 4:47 PM UTC

ch_123 wrote: post #14

In the UK and Ireland, a pint is 20 oz. (equivalent to just over 19 US ounces), so I always feel cheated by 16 oz. "pint" glasses in the US.

A pint in the Netherlands usually is 500ml. In very rare cases, but only in real pubs (not mass market "Irish" pubs) you get an actual pint. So you are cheated out of about ~68ml in that case. Vs the US you get a few ml more.

Re: Is it a pint?

#38

Post by masfuerte » Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 4:48 PM UTC

vojtapol wrote: post #30

xnorswap wrote: post #10

I got poured a pint by a newbie behind the bar at a hotel recently and she looked embarrassed as it was about 40% head, but to her credit she went to fetch the shift supervisor before I said anything. He explained after pouring it better that, even the remaining head (It had ~3/4 inch even after fixing it) might still be met by derision by many customers. "They'd be asking if you would be charging them for just for t…

Yes. Americans/Canadians famously can't pour beer properly. If you are pouring a pilsner or really any lager, a head of at least 2 inches is actually correct and absolutely desirable. The way it's poured in Canada (no head) is borderline undrinkable to me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dggKezrSQxI

If an establishment wants to serve drinks with a head they should use glasses with a mark on the side indicating the measure, rather than glasses which need to be brim full. Using the latter style of glass and including a head is just ripping off the customer.

Re: Is it a pint?

#39

Post by xnorswap » Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 4:50 PM UTC

post-it wrote: post #18

xnorswap wrote: post #10

I got poured a pint by a newbie behind the bar at a hotel recently and she looked embarrassed as it was about 40% head, but to her credit she went to fetch the shift supervisor before I said anything. He explained after pouring it better that, even the remaining head (It had ~3/4 inch even after fixing it) might still be met by derision by many customers. "They'd be asking if you would be charging them for just for t…

I'm not sure I understand, why didn't she just top it up?

Who knows, she obviously lacked experience, I guess she just panicked or worried it might be an issue with the barrel rather than her pour?

Re: Is it a pint?

#40

Post by consp » Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 4:50 PM UTC

vojtapol wrote: post #30

xnorswap wrote: post #10

I got poured a pint by a newbie behind the bar at a hotel recently and she looked embarrassed as it was about 40% head, but to her credit she went to fetch the shift supervisor before I said anything. He explained after pouring it better that, even the remaining head (It had ~3/4 inch even after fixing it) might still be met by derision by many customers. "They'd be asking if you would be charging them for just for t…

Yes. Americans/Canadians famously can't pour beer properly. If you are pouring a pilsner or really any lager, a head of at least 2 inches is actually correct and absolutely desirable. The way it's poured in Canada (no head) is borderline undrinkable to me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dggKezrSQxI

We call that kind of beer without any head "dead". Measurement here is about two fingers width, and if you do it the first time and screw up it is two fingers in length (second part is of course tounge-in-cheek).