A LANDLADY is toasting her success after securing a top award for her determined stand on serving beer in litres.

Andrea Schtz and Anton Limlei, who offer an authentic Austrian experience at the Cardinal's Hat, Friar Street, in Worcester have had a continuous battle with trading standards officers, who insist that selling imported beer in litres is against the law.

Although Europe sells beer in metric measures, it is forbidden in the UK under EU law, leaving the couple, from St Plten, the main town of Lower Austria, in trouble with the department since the pub opened in June last year.

But now, heavyweight supporters of the pub's metric stance - the British Weights and Measures Association- have presented the couple with its Inch Perfect Award, 2003.

A delighted Miss Schtz picked up the award at its annual meeting in London this weekend, an accolade she says was given for their "freedom of choice stance".

"I'm very, very proud of this award. It was given to the person whom the association believes has done the most to maintain a freedom of choice," she said.

"We've stood up for our belief that we should serve our beer in metric measures. It was a very emotional day for me."

Laws on British measures can be difficult to understand and enforce. Beer must be sold in pints, but lager and lime, or shandy, must be sold in litres or glasses.

The Metric Martyrs Defence Fund, formed following the prosecution of greengrocers who refused to sell in metric, are also backing the city pub.

Freedom

It believes freedom of choice should be given to both the retailer and the customer on whether to serve or be served in either imperial or metric measures.

A spokeswoman for Worcestershire Trading Standards said no action was currently being taken against the Cardinal Hat's decision to sell in litres.

"At the moment we have other ongoing priorities in terms of public health and safety issues to deal with," she said.

A LANDLADY is toasting her success after securing a top award for her determined stand on serving beer in litres.

Andrea Schtz and Anton Limlei, who offer an authentic Austrian experience at the Cardinal's Hat, Friar Street, in Worcester have had a continuous battle with trading standards officers, who insist that selling imported beer in litres is against the law.

Although Europe sells beer in metric measures, it is forbidden in the UK under EU law, leaving the couple, from St Plten, the main town of Lower Austria, in trouble with the department since the pub opened in June last year.

But now, heavyweight supporters of the pub's metric stance - the British Weights and Measures Association- have presented the couple with its Inch Perfect Award, 2003.

A delighted Miss Schtz picked up the award at its annual meeting in London this weekend, an accolade she says was given for their "freedom of choice stance".

"I'm very, very proud of this award. It was given to the person whom the association believes has done the most to maintain a freedom of choice," she said.

"We've stood up for our belief that we should serve our beer in metric measures. It was a very emotional day for me."

Laws on British measures can be difficult to understand and enforce. Beer must be sold in pints, but lager and lime, or shandy, must be sold in litres or glasses.

The Metric Martyrs Defence Fund, formed following the prosecution of greengrocers who refused to sell in metric, are also backing the city pub.

Freedom

It believes freedom of choice should be given to both the retailer and the customer on whether to serve or be served in either imperial or metric measures.

A spokeswoman for Worcestershire Trading Standards said no action was currently being taken against the Cardinal Hat's decision to sell in litres.

"At the moment we have other ongoing priorities in terms of public health and safety issues to deal with," she said.