Bars penalise drinkers for buying small glass of wine
DRINKERS who choose a small glass of wine are being penalised by pubs and bars, Evening Standard research shows today.
They are being charged proportionately more for small measures than they would be if they had chosen a large glass.
Now pubs are accused of ripping-off responsible drinkers and encouraging binge drinking.
Evening Standard carried out a straw poll of pubs and bars across the capital and found 92 per cent charged proportionately more for a 175ml glass than they did for a 250ml glass.
In the worst example 175ml was £3.50 and 250ml £4.25. If the larger glass was priced at the same rate as the smaller one, it would cost £5.
A spokeswoman from Consumer Voice said the trend gave drinkers "more incentive for bad habits".
Fiona Stapley, editor of the Good Pub Guide, said: "It will certainly encourage people to go for a larger glass because it's better value."
The Government launched a consultation on the way drinks are priced and served after fearing a voluntary code of conduct was being ignored by the industry. The results are due next month, with smaller wine glasses an option.