MP confident over 125ml wine measure bid

An MP bidding to force pubs and bars to offer wine in smaller measures has withdrawn a parliamentary bill on the issue, because he believes the government has indicated its support.

Lib Dem MP and Publican ​columnist Greg Mulholland tabled a private members bill in January calling for 125ml wine measures to be available alongside larger measures in pubs and bars.

The bill was due to have its second reading today, but Mulholland has withdrawn it on the understanding the government is considering including it in a new code of practice covering the trade.

A draft code has been released, which stipulates that the standard measure for wine should be 125ml.

"I am pleased that the government has effectively backed my bill which would introduce real choice for wine drinkers and enable people to be more aware of how much they are drinking," said Mulholland.

"Across the country there has been a deliberate move to phase out smaller wine glasses, which means people have no choice but to order larger sizes.

"My bill would be easy to introduce and would deliver real benefits and I am delighted that the government has listened and that this campaign, backed by consumer and health organisations, has been successful."

The deadline for submissions to the government's consultation on alcohol - Safe, Sensible, Social - closed this week.

The results of the consultation are due within three months.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems have attacked the government after it emerged that drinking banning orders, introduced two years ago under the Violent Crime Reduction, are not being used. The orders are designed to ban repeat offenders from bars for up to two years.

Don Foster, Lib Dem Shadow Culture, Media and Sport secretary, said: "Once again, the government has failed to deliver on promises to crack down on the problems created by binge drinking."