Potters Bar Articles

SOFT DRINKS RIP-OFF
Office of Fair Trading Report

The Director General of Fair Trading has copped-out, claiming that there is no evidence that the big brewers and pub chains are overcharging for non-alcoholic drinks, writes Paul Cannell

In what can only be described as a ludicrous situation, Consumer Affairs minister Kim Howells has asked the OFT to reconsider their findings, and has passed on more that 50 protests from the public. We now have two government offices disagreeing, whilst we, the mere customers, are left to pay over the odds. The OFT claims pub prices are fair "due to substantially higher overheads", when compared to supermarket prices for the same drinks.

Hang on though, haven't we lost the plot a bit here? When I was asked for £1.25 for a glass of draught Coke in the Cherry Tree, Newcastle, last year, I wasn't comparing the price with a supermarket. I was affronted because it was 60p a pint dearer than the beer I had just purchased. Add my name to the list of protesters Dr. Howells!!

LETTERS

Dear Sir,

The 15 minute guarantees widely publicised in many large food-orientated pubs misleadingly suggest that customers will get their meals in less than a quarter of an hour.

In such a pub recently I bought a pint and went to the food counter where I was told that because they had been quite busy they weren't taking any more food orders for half an hour.

Presumably I was expected to relax for 30 minutes (boosting their bar takings) before ordering a meal and then be pleased that it was served within 15 minutes of ordering. Instead I drank up and left

In some other pubs it would be nice if there was a genuine guarantee of being served a pint in less than five minutes!

Yours faithfully

P.R. Dawson

Stafford

Dear Gene,

Seeing your article in Potters Bar regarding the exhorbitant cost of soft drinks in pubs, may I nominate the Thistleberry, Newcastle to your hall of fame?

At this pub in December '99, the cost of one pint of water plus ice plus a minimal amount of orange squash cordial was an amazing £l.20.

How come the landlord of the Malt 'n' Hops in Fenton charges 60p for similar drink but uses a better quality cordial and gives a larger measure of the cordial?

Yours sincerely

John Jenkins

Fenton.

Correspondent Paul Cannell considers that £J.20 is peanuts compared to the £2.50 the Cherry Tree, Newcastle, attempted to charge him for the pint of fizzy water and cordial which he was served when he asked for two 'cokes'- Editor,

QUIZ TIME

- All the answers can be found in this edition of Potters Bar

1. Which brewery produced "Mad Jaffa", a spiced beer containing orange?

2. What component of beer may be two row or six row?

3. Which Hanley beer house was the last to obtain a liquor licence?

4. Who are the new owners of Mansfield Brewery?

5. Who is the Minister of Consumer Affairs?