• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Biggest change to UK drinking laws in 50 years to come into force within months

Home> News> UK News

Updated 10:05 30 Nov 2023 GMTPublished 09:59 30 Nov 2023 GMT

Biggest change to UK drinking laws in 50 years to come into force within months

We could all be drinking like Winston Churchill within months

Bec Oakes

Bec Oakes

Brexit has brought about a lot of changes for the UK and the latest will see us all downing our drinks like Winston Churchill.

The UK is set to drink like Churchill as pint-sized bottles of wine and champagne are set to be reintroduced.
Getty Stock Photos

In the biggest change to UK drinking laws in 50 years, champagne and wine is set to be sold in pint-sized bottles.

The 750 ml bottle is now almost the global standard, but the former Prime Minister once said a pint of champagne was 'enough for two at lunch and one at dinner.'

Advert

Now, ministers are on the verge changing the law to allow pint-sized bottles - previously banned by the European Union - and we could all be drinking like Churchill within months.

Pints of champagne made up around 60 per cent of champagne sales in the UK before we joined the European Common Market in 1973.

However, their production ceased as they did not comply with EU weights and measures rules.

James Simpson, managing director of Pol Roger, told The Drinks Business last year: “Unless and until the law on pint bottles is changed (and it is decided whether the “authorised” pint bottle is 500ml or 568ml, being the Imperial Pint) no producer, whether English or French, is going to go down the route of commissioning new glass moulds."

He continued: “The entire point of Brexit was that we should no longer follow EU regulations. But Brexit has resulted in us defaulting to EU laws, until each law is individually changed."

Advert

Government ministers say the pint-sized bottles could be reintroduced as soon as 'early next year.'
Getty Stock Photos

Tory ministers have been planning to bring the pint-sized bottles back since 2021, but have faced multiple legal delays.

However, the Department for Business and Trade has said that the ban will soon be lifted and consultations with the champagne and wine industries are 'imminent.'

Changes to weights and measures legislation mean we could be drinking champers by the pint as soon as 'early next year.'

But it may not be so easy.

Advert

Simpson explains the massive production changes that would be needed to produce the new bottles.

“One assumes that the cork size may have been different from those used for half bottles or indeed full bottles but, frankly, I have no idea whether there would need to be a new closure or what a case of new pint bottles would comprise," he says.

A source from the business department says: “This is just the latest win from our push to ditch pointless and restrictive EU rules.

"And what better way than by bringing back Churchill’s favourite?”

Bottoms up!

Advert

LADbible has contacted the Department of Business and Trade for comment

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Photos

Topics: UK News, Brexit, Food And Drink

Bec Oakes
Bec Oakes

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Furious Brits say 'no point drinking’ popular beer as lager brand slashes its alcohol strength
  • British pub changes name after complaints about it being 'offensive' despite different meaning
  • Brit living in Benidorm issues warning to anyone who goes to drink their famous £1 pints
  • Pubs across UK offer free pints for punters with one of 50 surnames

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    How man declared 'legally dead' walked into a courtroom to apply for a driving license

    And the astonishing part is, the judge said he was still legally dead

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Doctor issues warning about major mistake millions make while driving that is ‘slowing your brain down’

    Most cars have this button on the dashboard - but be mindful of how long you're using it for

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Expert reveals disturbing reason why you should never tell your dark secrets to ChatGPT

    Perhaps a set of code using data it's mined from the internet archive isn't your BFF?

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    The dark happenings behind the scenes of ChatGPT that many people don't know about

    In 2023, OpenAI was subjected to controversy following a TIME magazine investigation into ChatGPT

    News