Now Big Brother wants to put unit lines on pub glasses to show you EXACTLY how much you've had to drink

  • A charity is calling for unit measure lines to be printed on pub glasses 
  • Drinkaware says the measure could help drinkers see exactly how much alcohol they've had
  • The unit lines would be based on average strength drinks
  • But pub operators have branded the plans 'barmy'

By Sarah Bridge and Stephen Adams

Published: 16:52 EST, 5 April 2014 | Updated: 18:48 EST, 5 April 2014

For many of us, enjoying a glass of wine or pint of beer is the perfect way to unwind after a hard day’s work.

But it seems having a drink in a pub or restaurant could be about to get a lot less relaxing.

Campaigners are calling for lines to be printed on glasses to show drinkers how many units of alcohol they are really consuming – and potentially to shock them into cutting down. 

wine
Unit measure glasses

Campaign: These mock-ups show how wine and beer glasses could look if they are marked with alcohol units

The plans, put forward by the Drinkaware charity, would see unit measure lines added to glasses, based on average-strength drinks – a 4 per cent beer, 13 per cent wine and 40 per cent spirit.

Given that a 4 per cent pint of beer contains 2.3 units, the glass would have two unit lines printed on it – one just below half full and the second a little way under the official pint mark.

However, pub operators have condemned the ‘Big Brother’ plans as ‘barmy’, saying the lines would be meaningless because the strength of different beers, wines and spirits varies so much. 

 

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Beers can range from around 3 per cent for some bitters to more than 5 per cent for certain lagers, while light white wines contain just 8 per cent alcohol compared with heavy New World reds, which can measure 14 per cent or more.

Tim Martin, founder and chairman of the JD Wetherspoon chain, warned that pubs are ‘already  massively over-regulated’ and that the plans were ‘really Big Brotherish and slightly barmy’.

‘What’s the point of having ugly glasses with lines on in the pubs when people are just going to drink at home instead?’ he added.

Measurement: Campaigners want lines printed on glasses to show drinkers how much alcohol they've had

Measurement: Campaigners want lines printed on glasses to show drinkers how much alcohol they've had

‘There’s no point in making pubs the bastion of righteous behaviour if they’re going to be empty.’

And a spokesman for the British Beer and Pubs Association said: ‘Unit-lined glasses would represent a challenge when the alcohol content of beers and other drinks varies, and generic glasses would offer inaccurate consumer information and just add to confusion.’

But Elaine Hindal, chief executive of Drinkaware, said that while the lines weren’t perfect, they were needed to educate the public about how much they were drinking.

‘Most people do not know what a unit looks like, particularly when pouring at home,’ she added.

Big Brother: Pub operators have condemned the plans as 'barmy', saying the lines would be meaningless

Big Brother: Pub operators have condemned the plans as 'barmy', saying the lines would be meaningless

The charity is also calling for the return of the 125ml wine glass, saying that while pub and restaurant operators are legally required to offer the serving, many do not have it as an option on their menus.

Department of Health guidelines state that men should not regularly drink more than three or four  units a day – about a pint and a half – while women should not regularly consume more than two or three units.

A 250ml glass of ten per cent wine contains 2.5 units. One unit equals 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol – about the amount the average adult can process in an hour. 

You can work out how many units in a drink by multiplying its total volume (in ml) by its AVB (alcohol by volume, measured as a percentage) and dividing the result by 1,000.

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Probably the first sensible thing I have read about the drinking debate! At least you will see how much you are getting

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This is how the political correctness (AKA cultural-Marxism) starts. It was the same with cigarettes. First an unobtrusive health warning. Then it gets gradually larger and larger 'till it covers half the packet. Then a gross picture of a diseased lung is added and eventually cigarettes are sold from under shutters in plain packaging with only a health warning on them. In 20 years will it only be legal to serve alcohol if it's in a glass plastered with warnings and perhaps even a high-vis band around it?

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What a good idea. about time.

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Surely this would be too complicated to be able to be consistently accurate?

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Oh give it a rest let's have a drink.

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Interesting to see that you've shown a 250 ml wine glass which most women still believe is only 1 unit of alcohol! What makes it worse is that many of them drink at least 2 glasses at a time and convince themselves that they are well within the limit!

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I wouldn't call it big brother, it's not exactly clear on how many units of alcohol we drink, we like to count pints. If it stops you losing your driving licence this is worthwhile

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Best advice is not drink ANY alcohol in the first place.

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The sole object of these nanny state campaigners is to make our lives as miserable as their own!!

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If I live as told by the heath experts and the Government, would you guarantee that I will live to my seventies? no you can't...

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