* height is normally distributed for men.
* The average height of a man is 5'9".
* The standard deviation for men's height is 3".
So six foot is one standard deviation above average. I am sure one or more of the above does not hold for NZ. I just think this is neat, that the commonly stated preference happens to be for one standard deviation above the average.
They'll probably tell you if they know it's not a true pint, but I expect most bartenders have no idea.
The German system where there's a line on the glass that needs to be reached by beer under penalty of law puts a smile on my face.
Some US bars will serve imperial pints on request and/or offer them for British or Irish beers.
Typically in a British pub you will be served beer in a glass that is calibrated as “pint to brim”, and any head on the beer is taken out of the nominal pint. So usually a pint as served is much closer to half a litre.
But the good craft beer places have a sign saying what their pints are in millilitres to prevent unpleasant surprises when you were expecting 568mL but got 425mL.