Well Bill, I can understand someone looking for a drink of lower abv if it is going to be a long night. I know I for one am not very good at making a pint last, epsecially if I'm playing in a session....

As Dave the gnome and I have shown that choice needn't be larger though and there is a fair variation in strength between both drinks. Most pubs I go to round here these days offer a minimum of 2 bitters, typically with 2, one somewhere around the 4% mark and one around the 5% mark.

Dick, if it's anything like the UK, I would guess the name of the game with the mass produced stuff has become to produce a drink that is not unpleasant to taste for the greatest number of people, taking out any possible character in the process.