Are You Really Getting 16 Ounces in Your Pint-Sized Beer Glass? One State Wants to Make Sure

While the federal government remains shut down, at least state governments have their priorities in order.

Michigan lawmakers have proposed a law that would require a pint to be at last 16 ounces of beverage. (Image source: Shutterstock.com)

Michigan, for example, has proposed legislation that would require restaurants and bars to provide customers with at least 16 ounces of a beverage if they are going to advertise it with the word "pint."

"Similarly when people buy a pint and they're served less than a pint, it strikes me as sort of low-level fraud," state Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) said, according to Mlive.

Mlive pointed out that the Mitten State already regulates amounts sold for goods like deli meat.

Irwin said he became aware of this literally pint-sized issue when he was visiting establishments and testing their pints against his own 16-ounce glass, Mlive reported.

Some believe there are bigger issues facing bar and restaurant owners before a standardized beer glass size should be set.

"We have other pressing issues right now that need to be addressed over the amount of alcohol in the pint," Scott Ellis, executive director of the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association, told Mlive.

"I'd want to see how much of a problem it truly is," he continued, noting that many consider a pint a type of glass not an amount.

Irwin said he believes customers would help enforce such a regulation, not seeing a need to invest in "pint police" should this become law.

As Michigan has become more well-known on the national scale for its craft breweries -- the city of Grand Rapids was voted Beer City USA for the second year in 2013 -- consumers are likely to support a regulation that could ensure they get a standardized amount of alcoholic beverage.

"It's an important part of the ritual to get your full measure," Rex Halfpenny with the Michigan Beer Guide told Mlive.

Featured image via Shutterstock.com.

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