Code 'might make people drink more'

The second part of the mandatory code could mean people will drink more — not less — as they upsize wine and spirit measures, the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) Licensee of the Year has warned.

Last Friday it became law that pubs must offer customers a choice of a 125ml glass of wine, a 25ml or 35ml spirits measure and operate an age-verification policy.

BII Licensee of the Year 2010 Richard Pope, owner of the Bulls Head in Repton, Derbyshire, said it was "impractical" to offer three measures of wine and so had chosen to scrap the middle 175ml measure and offer just a 125ml measure or a large 250ml glass. He has also ditched the pub's former 35ml spirits measure for 25ml across the board.

Pope said he sold more large glasses of wine (250ml) in the first weekend "than ever before".

"One weekend isn't long enough to tell if I'm selling more wine, but experience tells me that people will go for the 250ml measure over the 125ml," he said.

Lack of information​

Meanwhile, Helen Ellwood of the freehold Poachers Inn at Bollington, Cheshire, has refused to make any changes because of a lack of communication from her licensing authority.

"We haven't deviated and we won't," she said. "It should be left to the discretion of the licensee to decide what measure they use and if the Government brings in laws that you must comply with, it should offer financial assistance." The pub will continue to sell spirits in 35ml measures and wine in 175ml and 250ml glasses.

Former BII Licensee of the Year Phil Davison agreed there hasn't been enough "formal information" on the second part of the code. "The biggest issue is people haven't been told," said Davison, who runs Wadworth pub the Sun in the Wood, in Ashmore Green, Berkshire. "There has been no formal verification — what we know is from the trade press."

The second part of the code may yet be repealed as part of the Government's licensing reforms.