Pubs slammed over large wine measures
The health lobby has taken another swipe at the industry, claiming that large wine measures are fuelling binge drinking.
Royal College of Physicians president Ian Gilmore claimed many pubs now only serve wine in 175ml and 250ml glasses rather than offering a 125ml glass.
Gilmore said he was also concerned that the standard size of a spirit measure had increased from 25ml to 35ml.
"There is no doubt at all that many people are drinking significantly more than they realise," Gilmore told the BBC.
"People are aware of units, they want to stay within safe limits, but they are being pushed up way over those limits by just not realising what they are drinking.
"I think the industry is being irresponsible and needs to put its house in order."
His call was backed up by Lib Dem and All Party Parliamentary Beer Group MP Greg Mulholland.
The MP proposed an amendment to weights and measures legislation earlier in the year to force pubs to offer the 125ml glass.
He said: "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 among women who drink the majority of wine purchased in bars and pubs."
He added: "Quite simply, it's profiteering."
Choice
Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Nick Bish told BBC News: "The customer wants to have something nice and big but also wants to be charged a fair price for it and that is the business we are in for coffee or beer or wine or spirits.
"The essence of this is choice for the customer.
"I wouldn't recommend that any of my members or any pub only offered the 250ml glass.
"That is madness - it is not giving the customer choice and it is rowing right into the hands of politicians who want to make some sort of statement about this.
"When in fact it doesn't reflect reality and is probably patronising to the customers."
British Beer and Pub Association director of communications Mark Hastings added: "People felt short-changed in pubs because we were selling 125ml glasses.
"So the pub sector moved to serving us in exactly the same way as people drink in their own homes. In other words it's what people want to buy."
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