CAMRA Vancouver

FUSS Letter 2016

Dear pubs and restaurants of Vancouver,

My name is David Perry, I am the President of the Vancouver Branch of CAMRA BC. CAMRA BC, or The Campaign for Real Ale Society of British Columbia, an independent and  voluntary, consumer organization dedicated to advocating for Craft Beer consumers in the province. Our organization is completely member funded and receives no financial support from the liquor industry.

A few years ago, CAMRA Vancouver started a campaign which we called Fess Up to Serving Sizes (or FUSS, for short). The FUSS campaign was not as well received, or as successful as we had hoped, but the spirit that backed the campaign remains intact. We advocate strongly for local industry to advertise their pouring sizes, and for them to pour what they advertise to their consumers. It is that simple! Technically, there is nothing illegal with selling a “sleeve” of beer or a “pint” of beer. But unfortunately, consumers have no way of knowing how much beer is in a “sleeve.” An establishment could feasibly get away with selling a 4 ounce tasting glass as a “sleeve” and there is nothing the consumer could do about it.

Instead, we would like to see local establishments to do the following (some of which have already done so):

  • Write their beer serving sizes on their menus, so consumers know how much beer they are purchasing.
  • Actually pour the amount of liquid listed on the menu.

That’s it! Seems simple? Then here is my challenge to you – let me know that you think you are up to par. Email me (pres@camravancouver.ca) or tweet at us (@Camravancouver) and let us know. We will come and put your establishment to the test by reviewing your menus and measuring out some beers. If you pass we will sing you praises and push our members to go and check you out! If you don’t pass, the worst that can happen is we can have a conversation about why you didn’t pass and you can work on it for next time.

This isn’t about opposition – this is about keeping the consumers, your customers, happy by giving them what they pay for. Join us in Support of Craft beer, and step up to the challenge!

Regards,

David Perry – President CAMRA BC, Vancouver Branch

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Comments

15 Responses to “FUSS Letter 2016”

  1. mikescraftbeer Avatar
    mikescraftbeer

    Well put Dave.

    Reply
    1. David Perry Avatar
      David Perry

      Thank you, sir!

      Reply
  2. Glen Marshall (F18) Avatar
    Glen Marshall (F18)

    OK as far as it goes. But it needs to go a lot farther. CAMRA should take the very reasonable position that serving vessels should be required by provincial legislation to show a line (and yes, for beer, please leave space above it for the appropriate head) that indicates an approved serving size, such as 20 (pint) or 16 (something else) Imperial fluid ounces. My preference would be metric equivalents (500 ml), but that is less important.

    To start with, the province should amend its SIR qualifications to include serving sizes. Why should the knowledge that 16 (usually US) fluid ounces is not “a pint” not be part of “Serving It Right”? CAMRA, you’ve got more work to do with advocacy.

    Reply
    1. David Perry Avatar
      David Perry

      HI Glen,

      I completely agree that there is work to be done.

      As CAMRA Vancouver, however, my focus is advocating on a local level. We have recently elected a CAMRA BC President that has a storied history of working on a provincial level and getting involved with province-wide legislation. I have every confidence in Jeremy’s ability to advocate for better provincial legislation.

      That being said, as President of a municipal branch of CAMRA BC, my role is to advocate for local drinkers rights. Which, as far as serving sizes go – is to put pressure on local establishments to meet what is expected of them under current legislation. I can’t push for local advocacy on legislation that doesn’t exist.

      My other role as President of this branch is to voice my members concerns to the provincial board. I have noted your comments and plan to escalate them to CAMRA BC so we can actually take on what you are saying.

      For the time being, we will continue our local advocacy push as that is CAMRA Vancouver’s prime mandate.

      Reply
  3. Adam Chatburn Avatar
    Adam Chatburn

    Good work David, I think this is a great first step.

    Reply
  4. dave Avatar
    dave

    A sleeve does have a definition in BC (14 oz or 398ml) and a pint (20oz or 568ml) does have a definition in Canada. To advertise and not serve those amounts is illegal.

    Reply
    1. David Perry Avatar
      David Perry

      I’ll have to look into that. All the digging we have done hasn’t shown that. Shoot me an email with some documentation on it, if you have some!

      Reply
  5. Jeff Avatar
    Jeff

    Excellent David! I fully support us not letting up on this issue. I also agree with Glen’s comments about eventually seeing some government regulation, and fill lines marked right on regulation-size serving glasses.

    Reply
    1. David Perry Avatar
      David Perry

      So do we, Jeff! Trying to take a crawl, walk, run approach. Hoping we will get there!

      Reply
  6. Jeff Avatar
    Jeff

    I wonder how these bar and pub owners would feel if they were told a “tank” of gas is $50 and after ordering found out it was only a 25L tank. Or if it’s $1.15 per litre of gas but you only get .9L when you use the pump.

    It’s no different for beer.

    Reply
    1. David Perry Avatar
      David Perry

      Great analogy!

      Reply
  7. Trevor Holness Avatar
    Trevor Holness

    Isnt a sleeve a 12oz drink with room for head in a 14oz glass? my pint glass, at home, is 22oz with a line at 20oz? either way FUSS is so important to help educate pubs and patrons alike.

    Reply
    1. David Perry Avatar
      David Perry

      There is no legal definition of a sleeve, that’s part of the problem. This is why we are pushing for numeric representation on menus of these establishments. Thanks for being so passionate!

      Reply
  8. Garry Self Avatar
    Garry Self

    Measurement Canada regulates the size of a pint of beer (which must be 568ml of liquid). I don’t think there is any regulation for a sleeve, although you may see references to a sleeve in BC food and liquor primary documents as a “Common Name”

    Reply
  9. Gary MacDougall Avatar
    Gary MacDougall

    I have been under the impression that it is law in every province in Canada that a licensed establishment is required to publish the quantity of poor on every alcoholic drink they serve. I thought this came out in in our original FUSS campaign. I have brought it up with many operators and service employees for the last few years. If this is the case I think it should be at least mentioned in any letter that goes out. If I have been misled I owe a lot of apologies. I am not suggesting we are saying that we trying to police it, but am wondering about your line (Technically there is nothing wrong illegal )

    Reply

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