Charging for a lemonade top

[Valgrind]

I've been a visitor to two of Samuel Smith's pubs for a few years now. I started using them because they are in handy locations for my trips out and about, but I've since found that the lager agrees with my system in a way all other alcoholic products don't: I appear to be becoming increasingly intollerant of additives and I'm very happy/lucky that these pubs exist.

Two weeks ago in one of the pubs (I haven't visited the other one recently) the barperson attempted to charge me an additional amount for the lemonade top on a pint of lager. This is the first time in my life that this has happened and I cannot see how it can be justified since I have always assumed that the quantity of beer is reduced to accommodate the lemonade top. I don't go into a pub looking to validate measured quantities, but I did notice that this particular pint was around the lowest measure that you might expect to receive, so a lemonade top constituting something extra can be ruled out - it's important that I get that across.

I have recently been back to the same pub and been served by different staff. For the first pint, I was going to be charged for a top so I had a straight lager. I had a bit of fun questioning the barperson about how much a pint of lager would cost with varying amounts of lemonade in it. For my next pint (and different staff member) I asked for a shandy of a certain mixture. I didn't talk to this barperson about the top charge as I thought I'd amuse myself by attempting to find the boundary between the prices. What I got was a pint of lager with a larger quantity of lemonade than a top but smaller than a shandy (the barperson told me this) for the same price as a straight lager. Therefore reducing that quantity of lemonade to a measure that can be described as a top results in an additional charge. Perhaps there's somebody here that could assist me with understanding the logic behind that.

As I've said, I'm grateful for being able to drink organic beer at the locations that I do, but somebody has told me that this top charging was made illegal some time ago and no matter how much I think about it, all that I can conclude is that it is a fraud.

P.S. Thanks for offering an independent forum like this.

[dogsboddy]

i bet they was well pleased you walked through the door ibet they was well pleased when you walked back through it  if it wont stand a dash of lemonade because its full of lager how does it stand a dash of lime  the easy option is take a drink and ask for a dash if you have to pay extra

[ian]

Speaking as a customer I think Valgrind as a good point.  Many years ago when my wife was drinking lager & lime the club we used served it in half pint glasses.  Being a true Yorkshireman I told them that I was getting short measure and asked for it to be served in a oversize glass.  I was told noway would the club buy oversize glasses just for me. 

From then on I got my wife half a lager and a tot of lime in a tot glass.  It went on for months on end and the rest of the club members followed suit, in the end everybody was doing it.  After about a year the club bought oversize glasses. Customer power won that time.  But I have a feeling it wont wash with Sam Smith's.

ian.

[whizz]

If it was three quid a pint I could understand it, but at Sams prices I'd let it be.

[passedit]

Let it be !!! You have been short measured with your beer then charged for a splash of lemonade that is simply stealing from customers.  Regardless of the price which we all agree at Sam,s is good along with the quality you would,nt put up with short measures in other outlet,s including supermarket,s,fish & chip shop,s your local newsagent,s etc.
So stop trying to convince people that Sam,s should get away with it !!! 

[OnTheDrink]

Can't say I've ever been in a pub that doesn't charge extra, but that's not to say I agree with it as it's always seemed to me to be the worst kind of penny pinching, especially with post mix lemonade having such a massive mark-up.  Technically, pubs can get away with it because as soon as you add something to a pint of lager or beer it becomes a 'made drink' in the same way as a shandy, and a different price can be charged. Still, when I was in the trade I'd never charge for a dash of lemonade in a pint, but I would charge for lime.

[passedit]

I also did,nt charge for lemonade but did charge for cordials,as was said in a PINT,  in 20oz glasses you don,t get a pint 

[DarkieBoy]

hunter and Valgrind, I totally agree.  No matter how little you get charged for a pint or whatever alcohol, you should not be ripped off/short-measured.  Cheap prices does not justify, legally or morally, ripping people off.

This topic (or similar) has come up before regarding Samuel Smith's and I'm sure it will emerge again.

DB.

[OldBreweryDrinker]

I know some Sams pubs charge for lemonade tops, and also charge different amounts for shandy eg putting through half a lemonade adn half a pint. This is slightly more expensive i believe as a customer in my local complained about it. As for cordial i thought now that all the pubs had to use optics to dispense a 25ml measure. Customers do complain if they get charged extra as the managers are trying to make the 5% surplus demanded by Humphrey.

[OnTheDrink]

...as the managers are trying to make the 5% surplus demanded by Humphrey.

This is the main problem. Managers face the sack if they don't rip off customers and that must be very stressing.  It's difficulty enough in a 'normal' pub to prevent stock shortfalls but actually making a surplus is nearly impossible unless you're running a fashion bar,  nightclub etc where it's very easy indeed.

[dogsboddy]

a lot charge for soda water as a dash

[antthe2nd]

ithas to be charged for its stock !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as for soda water if someone wants a lime and soda its charged as a cord water half or pint,a wine and soda id just charge for wine, wine and lemonade id charge for wine and a post mix dash

[blueboy]

As an ex licensee with Sams I think that I can explain why you are charged for the dash, but you will not be happy with my answer.
First of all the short measure of lager to make room for the dash is what Smiffys brewery is looking for so he gets a nice surplus. The lemonade has to be charged for otherwise the licensee will be giving it away when topping your pint up with it. Hence a pint and a dash is a nice little earner for the gaffer.
Please take pity on the licensee because if he did not "rob" you, then he would not achieve the surplus desired and he would be shown the door like many more before him/her.
I have covered this before in a previous post whereby the workforce are committed to robbing the customer to achieve a 5% surplus.
The correct thing to do is ask for a pint and then a dash in a seperate glass to achieve the full product that you are paying good money for.

[DarkieBoy]

Good stuff blueboy, spot on.

DB.

[whizz]

No wonder  I think of it all as being a bit of a conundrum, one minute you say that the landlords are having a hard time making a profit and feeling sorry for them, and then getting all fizzed up over a dash of beer or lemonade. I, as you might say, like to not rock the boat, it is good beer, sold at good prices, so I like to think I'm doing my bit to keeping the ship on an even keel, so, I dont complain, but then, thats me.