Ale Measures Act 1698

Reciting that by Law, Innkeepers, &c. are to sell their Ale and Beer by the Ale Quart, according to the Standard thereof in the Exchequer.

Innkeepers, &c. are to sell their Ale and Beer by the Ale Quart or Pint, according to the said Standard; Description of Vessels in which they are to sell the same; Standard Ale Quart or Pint made from the said Standard to be kept in Cities, &c. Penalty.

Whereas by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm all Inn-keepers Ale-house-keepers and Victuallers ought to utter and sell their Ale and Beere by the Ale Quart according to the Standard thereof remaining in the Custody of the Chamberlains of His Majesties Exchequer the neglecting the Observance whereof and selling and retailing their Ale and Beer in uncertaine Measures much lesse than the said Standard is found to be of evill Consequence in hindring the Consumption of malted Corne and lessening His Majesties Revenues of Excise and a great Wrong and Prejudice to wayfaring Men Travellers Manufacturers Labourers and others and alsoe to such poor People whose Necessities force them to buy Ale and Beere from them For remedying whereof may it please Your most Gracious Majesty that it may be enacted and be it enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by Authority of the same That from and after the Four and twentieth Day of June One thousand seaven hundred all Inn-keepers Ale-house-keepers Sutlers Victuallers and other Retailers of Ale or Beer and every Person and Persons keeping any Publick House and retaileing and selling Ale or Beer in any City Towne Corporate Borough Markett-Towne Village Hamlett Parish Part or Place whatsoever within the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales or Towne of Berwick upon Tweed shall retaile utter and sell their Ale and Beer in and from their respective Houses by a full Ale Quart or Ale Pint according to the said Standard or in Proportion thereunto in a Vessell made of Wood Earth Glasse Horne Leather Pewter or of some other good and wholsome Metall made sized and equalled unto the said Standard and signed stampt or marked to be of the Content of the said Ale Quart or Ale Pint according to the said Standard either from the said Exchequer or from the City of London or from some City Towne Corporate Borough or Market-Towne where a Standard Ale Quart or Ale Pint made from the said Standard shall be kept for that Purpose and shall not retaile and utter any Ale or Beer to any Person or Persons in any other Vessell not signed and marked as aforesaid on Pain to forfeite a Summe not exceeding Fourty Shillings nor lesse than Tenn Shillings for every such Offence to be recovered as hereinafter is provided.