MP calls for smaller wine measures

An MP has called for pubs to be forced to sell wine in 125ml glasses.

Lib Dem health spokesman Greg Mulholland, a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, proposed an amendment to weights and measures legislation to force pubs to offer the 125ml measure and not just the 175ml and 250ml measure most favour.

However, the ten-minute rule motion has little chance of succeeding as the tactic is mainly used by backbench MPs to make a point and test Parliament's opinion on a subject.

Mulholland is concerned that many drinkers have no idea of how many units they have consumed because of the move to larger measures.

Whatever is next - a ban on a double Scotch?​Peter CoulsonMA legal editor

"In the last few years there has been a deliberate move by many bar and pub companies to phase out the traditional standard size 125ml glass of wine, and only sell the larger 175ml and 250ml size. ​

"In the latter case that is almost half a pint of wine.

"The result has been that wine drinkers are less aware of how many units of alcohol they are drinking when they have had a few glasses of wine.

"This is a real concern at a time when the figures show that alcohol related health problems are increasing, including women who drink the majority of wine purchased in bars and pubs."

Current weights and measures legislation states that wine can be served in 125ml or 175ml measures or in multiples of those but does not state pubs must offer the smaller measure.

MA legal editor Peter Coulson said: "The whole reason there has been a move to bigger glasses is so you can get a decent standard measure of wine in a pub and not the piddly little glasses you got served before.​

"Whatever is next - a ban on a double Scotch?"​