ROBERT McNeil's entertaining observations on pints, big girls' half-pints and unisex schooners (“The truth is, beer and transport don’t mix”, The Herald, October 30) reminded me of an incident many years ago when in a restaurant with upmarket pretensions my friend's request for a pint was met with disdain and the reply that only half-pints were served at table.

His request for two half-pints was successful.

It was then that I fully appreciated the value of an honours degree in physics.

R Russell Smith,

96 Milton Road, Kilbirnie.