‘Pint’ size wine stocked on Britain’s shelves for the first time
ever thanks to new freedoms from leaving the European Union
Still and sparkling wine to be sold in 200ml, 500ml and 568ml
‘pint’ sizes in 2024
900 British vineyards set to benefit across the country from new
freedoms
Brits will soon be able to purchase ‘pint’ sized bottles of still
and sparkling wine, as a new 568ml size is introduced to
Britain’s supermarket shelves, pubs, clubs and restaurants, the
Department for Business and Trade has announced today
(27th December). The move to introduce the 568ml size
would sit alongside the 200ml and 500ml measures already
available, offering more flexibility and choice for customers.
The UK’s wine sector is set for the boost as part of the
Government’s smarter regulation programme to ensure regulations
are up to date and agile,. The move comes
following engagement with the industry, with businesses now being
able to sell prepacked still and sparkling wine in 500ml and
200ml sizes as well as a new 568ml ‘pint’ quantity.
900 vineyards are set to benefit from the new freedoms, boosting
production and supporting British businesses, which currently
produce around 12.2 million bottles of still or sparkling wine a
year*.
These optional reforms from Government are thanks to our new
Brexit freedoms via the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform)
Act 2023 and are wholeheartedly backed by industry wanting to
reduce burdensome regulations. The changes will help to boost
innovation, increase business freedoms and improve choice for
consumers.
Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business
said:
“Innovation, freedom and choice – that’s what today’s
announcement gives to producers and consumers alike.
“Our exit from the EU was all about moments just like this, where
we can seize new opportunities and provide a real boost to our
great British wineries and further growing the economy.”
, CEO of WineGB said:
“We welcome the chance to be able to harmonize still and
sparkling bottle sizes and we are happy to raise a glass to the
greater choice that allows UK producers for domestic sales.”
The Windsor Framework also means that newly packaged wine will be
able to be sold by bars, restaurants and retailers in Northern
Ireland – with products able to move in what is known as the
retail "Green Lane", under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement
Scheme.
In addition to announcing the deregulatory measure on wine, the
Government has published a response to the consultation Choice on
units of measurement: markings and sales. Following the extensive
consultation, the Government has decided not to introduce any new
legislation in this area. But new guidance has been issued to
promote awareness and use of imperial measurements.
The Government will continue to keep this legislative framework
under consideration, as part of a wider review of metrology EU
derived legislation.
- ENDS -
Notes to Editors:
Wine quantities:
- Most alcoholic drinks can be sold only in a limited range of
fixed quantities, which are set out in the Weights and Measures
(Intoxicating Liquor) Order 1988. The legislation applies
to a range of alcohol, including still and sparkling wine, and
sets out the quantities which prepacked drinks (by the bottle or
can) and non-prepacked drinks (by glass or carafe) can be sold
in.
- The rationale behind having a set range of quantities is to
help people keep track of their alcohol intake, for health and
safety reasons.
- The proposal is to use powers in the Retained EU Law
(Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 to allow new quantities of
prepacked still and sparkling wine (in bottles or cans) to be
sold. Quantities of non-prepacked alcohol sold in pubs and
restaurants (drinks served by the glass) are not regulated by
REUL and are outside the scope of this proposal.
- The changes will allow new quantities of both prepacked still
and sparkling wine to be sold in 200ml and 500ml quantities
(currently still wine cannot be sold in 200ml, and sparkling wine
cannot be sold in 500ml). This will bring more alignment between
the two drinks. The changes will also enable a new 568ml ‘pint’
quantity of still and sparkling wine to be sold. There is no
legal obligation for businesses to sell in the new sizes.
- The intention is to support the thriving UK wine sector by
providing opportunities for innovation, increasing consumer
choice, and resolving some of the issues experienced by industry
with inconsistent sizes for still and sparkling wine.
Units of measurement
- The consultation was published in June 2022 and received over
100,000 responses. Analysis showed 98.7% of respondents
were in favour of using metric units when buying or selling
products, either as the primary unit of sale (as currently) or as
the sole unit of sale (purely metric). After careful
consideration, the Government has decided not to introduce any
new legislation at this time.
