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Drinkers warned over supersize cocktails

23:45pm 5th July 2006

Binge drinking is a growing problem

Drinkers are being put at risk because bar staff are mixing cocktails with supersize measures of spirits. A snapshot survey found some measures of vodka, whisky, rum and gin can be 50 per cent bigger than expected.

Three out of four bars tested by the consumer watchdog Which? were serving much larger measures than anticipated.

The problem has arisen with the emergence of trendy bars where staff pour drinks freehand as part of the entertainment. Pubs and bars traditionally pour spirits using measuring cups, with a single measure equal to 25ml and a double 50ml.

However, when barmen pour freehand there is no control over the size of each measure. Health campaigners warn that this hitand-miss system makes it very difficult for drinkers, particularly young women who are the biggest buyers of cocktails, to assess how much alcohol they are consuming.

Drivers may find they are over the legal limit after having just one or two drinks. A survey by Which? and trading standards officers in Leeds found nine out of 12 bars served bigger measures than expected. All were at least ten per cent bigger, while one was 50 per cent more.

The worst case was the Revolution Bar, part of a national chain specialising in vodka cocktails. There, a 25ml measure of vodka was 50 per cent over at 37.5ml.

As a rough guide, men should drink no more than four units of alcohol before driving, while the figure for women is three. A unit normally equates to a single 25ml measure of spirits, a small 125ml glass of wine, or half a pint of beer.

However, the problems identified by the survey mean a woman could be over the legal driving limit with just two vodka-mix drinks. A similar situation has been identified with wine. Many bars now offer as standard 175ml, or even 250ml - which equates to a third of a bottle in a single glass.

Martin Plant, professor of addiction studies at the University of the West of England, believes over-pouring is widespread. "If you can get people drunk more quickly, you can get them to stay at the bar for longer," he said. The Portman Group, which speaks for the drinks industry on responsible drinking, said: "To serve a customer more alcohol that they have asked for is irresponsible and could even be dangerous in some circumstances."

Revolution Bar was not available to comment. Trading standards officers in Leeds have sent warning letters to six of the worst-offending bars, highlighting the issue of binge drinking and the danger of serving larger measures to drivers.

7 people have commented on this story so far. Tell us what you think below.

Here's a sample of the latest comments published. You can click view all to read all comments that readers have sent in.

Larger than expected measures - sounds good to me! More value for money, better for the consumer.

- Maura Hanley, Sydney , Australia

Seems like it makes much more sense to use how you're feeling as a guide of how many drinks to have, rather than some arbitrary number. So if the drinks are stronger, people just need fewer of them to get the desired effect. The designated driver isn't supposed to drink at all.

- Nancy , San Francisco , CA , USA

Many people now get drunk regularly to escape the realities of our modern materialistic world propped up with debt.
People have lost their belief in things greater than easy gratification and often can’t understand the emptiness that it then brings.
People that binge drink should be asking themselves, why do I do it? Does it make me happy and a better person? What’s really missing in my life?
It’s not just a health issue anymore.

- Matt Singleton, Chelmsford , Essex