The prospect of a full pint of beer is being welcomed by trading standards officers in North Yorkshire.

The officers are toasting a long-awaited announcement by the Government's Trade and Industry Secretary, Stephen Byers, of consultations to ensure that at long last people get their fair measure.

Mr Byers has announced plans for a consultation document to clarify the law about measurements of a pint.

Derek Smith, a spokesman for North Yorkshire's trading standards officers said he expected a decision to be made by Easter and then licensees would have two years to change their measurements of pints - most probably with new lined beer glasses.

Whether a measured pint of beer should include the froth or not has been a vexed question for more than 30 years ever since it was decided that a pint of Guinness included a creamy head as without it would not be the drink which everyone knew.

The decision was later extended to include all draught beers although the size of the head had to be within reason.

Various attempts to solve the matter have failed.

Stuart Pudney, head of trading standards and regulatory services in North Yorkshire, said: "By using larger glasses licensees can serve a full measure pint of liquid and still have room for a head on top.

"Licensees who use glasses which hold exactly one pint to the top are taking an unfair advantage of customers. With beer selling at £2 a pint, a deficiency of only five per cent is equivalent to an extra 10p, and a 10 per cent deficiency amounts to 20 pence.

"We welcome the announcement by the Secretary of State which should once and for all settle the argument as to what constitutes a pint of beer."

emma.harrison@ycp.co.uk