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

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

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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.'

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."

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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.

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!

LADbible has contacted the Department of Business and Trade for comment

Topics: UK News, Brexit, Food And Drink

Bec Oakes