Pint sizes in UK pubs could be reduced to new 'two-thirds' measure

Scientists have reached a conclusion after a trial in which pints were scrapped in a dozen pubs, bars and restaurants across the UK.

UK pubs could reduce the size of a pint to a two-thirds measure - after landmark studies. Scientists have reached a conclusion after a trial in which pints were scrapped in a dozen pubs, bars and restaurants across the UK.

The data showed abandoning the British pint for a smaller measure could boost the nation’s health. The experiment, which met a measure of resistance, resulted in the amount of beer sold falling nearly 10 per cent.

The drop could lessen the impact of alcohol-related harm, which claims thousands of lives in Britain each year, the team believes. “This is the first real-world study to look at this,” said Prof Dame Theresa Marteau, study leader and director of the behaviour and health research unit at the University of Cambridge. “Does this have the potential to contribute to population health? I’d say definitely, yes.”

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At 568ml, the British pint is among the largest common beer serving in the world. Germans favour 500ml, a US pint is 473ml, the Australian schooner, 425ml. One drinker who took part said: “I’ve just been in Turkey on an all-inclusive and the drinks at the hotel were that big.

"You just end up ordering more.” A second said: “It depends where you’re going with it. If you’re having a quick drink it probably doesn’t matter. You might end up nursing it more. But if you want to get drunk? Well, it might take six instead of four.”

“Realistically, we’d still drink the same amount,” said a third “I was in Australia drinking schooners and it definitely didn’t slow me down,” added a fourth responded, continuing to say. “I’d treat two-thirds as halves. I’d definitely round down.”

When we think about tackling alcohol, we often think about affordability and advertising. We’re highlighting an additional intervention that can be considered for alcohol control policies,” she said.

Professor Theresa Marteau, Director of the Behaviour and Health Research Unit at the University of Cambridge, explained: "Removing the offer of pints in 13 licensed premises for four weeks reduced the volume of beer sold. This is in keeping with the emerging literature showing that smaller serving sizes help us drink less and presents a novel way of reducing alcohol consumption and improving population health.

"Reducing alcohol consumption is a global public health priority."