Schooners are being shipped to Scotland’s pubs and clubs in record numbers to meet a surge in demand for smaller measures of beer and lager.
The market for two-thirds of a pint tumblers has swelled due to the growth of craft ales and the country’s lower drink-driving limit.
Scotland’s biggest distributor of glasses to the licensed trade said their orders have grown twofold in the last year and show no sign of abating.
John Cockerell, director of James F Kidd & Son of Edinburgh, said: “Two years ago we were doing less than 2,000 dozen of the schooner glasses a year but that has now gone up to about 5,000 dozen.
“The demand has been so great that we’ve had to take on a third supplier.”
Mr Cockerell said the market has grown mainly through the rise in popularity of craft ales and lagers, especially in independent pubs.
“The big pub-owning companies are able to sell beer and lager for a price the independents can’t compete with.
“Craft ales are a product that the independents are able to provide which their bigger rivals don’t really deal in.
“These drinks have become popular with customers and you can’t or don’t want to consume as much craft ale as regular beer or lager.
“Another reason is that some of them are quite strong and you can’t drink them by the pint-ful, so customers want them in two-thirds pint glasses.
“A further reason is the lower drink-driving limit in Scotland which has made people want to consume a lesser amount of alcohol if they are driving.”
Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said sales of beer and lager in schooner glasses had increased.
“It’s because of the craft ales and drinking lower quantities allows you to enjoy different ones on an evening out,” he said.
“Customers are also downsizing because of the lower drink-driving limit as they think drinking a smaller measure will keep them within the law.”
Jonathan Stewart, licensee at the Royal Arch in Broughty Ferry, said craft ales are big sellers in his pub, and he ordered more schooner glasses to meet the demand.
Ron Macdonald of the Grange Golf Club at Monifieth said they have introduced new two-thirds pint glasses for thirsty car drivers after their round.