Chotchkies Outrage

"Wait, you told them we sell pints?"

Alex and his friend went to Tony Roma's, a casual dining place known for its ribs, and got a little twinge in their gut (it might have been the bagged food they were served?) when they realized that the "16 ounce" beer they were served came in a 14 ounce glass. The glass was just as tall as a normal glass, but it had a thicker bottom, making it hold less. These glasses are known as "falsies."

The friends might not have noticed the difference except that Alex's buddy got his beer served in a normal glass and Alex got the thick-bottomed one. They conducted experiments involving pouring water between the different glasses and concluded that yes, Alex got 2 ounces less. When they complained, the manager said, "who said we served pints?" and said it was policy to only serve beer in 14 ounce glasses, and soda in 16 ounce glasses. Which might have been ok, except when the waiter first took their order, he specifically asked whether they would like 16 ounces or 23 ounces.

16 is not 14. He was charged for 16.

Moral outrage - mass hysteria. Yes, yes. But before you dismiss the 2 oz, this is stealing - and if it's franchise wide, then it's a policy of ripping off their customers.

Just sad - and good catch there Alex. Alex, by the way, only had a form letter follow up from the corporate home office.

14 is not a pint.

Since we're on the subject. 16 is not a proper British Imperial Pint either, friends. 20 oz is.

Ever since 1699, successive British governments have found it necessary to measure and certify the pint and half-pint glasses made and used in this country.

The stamp of the crown on top of a pub glass has stood as a guarantee that it is big enough to deliver a full pint.

The rules, which were intended to assure suspicious beer drinkers that they were not being given short measures, meant a crown and certification number was printed on each glass.

What's the bottom line in all this? Either institute a Government seal of approval of what constitutes a proper pint (not bloody likely) with a flag pin or something - or a slightly better idea would be to not go to a Chotchkies for your "buddy hang out place" beer slamming fest.