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Weights & Measures - an Update

21 July 2011

Earlier this month the Department for Business Innovation & Skills issued guidance concerning amendments to Weights and Measures law which will come into force on the 1stOctober 2011.

Regular readers may recall our article almost exactly 1 year ago where we highlighted the coalition government’s intention to address the issue of measures at some future date.  It appears that the date will be the 1st October 2011.  The new law will implement the following changes:

  • The introduction of a new permitted measure for draught beer and cider, namely 2/3 pint. Draught beers and ciders can now be sold in 1/3 pint, 1/2 pint, 2/3 pint or multiples of 1/2 pint servings.
  • Still wine will no longer be subject to any measure regulations, if sold in quantities of less than 75ml. This means that the previous illegal practice of selling small samples of exclusive wines at affordable prices for the connoisseur will become permissible. Several businesses already exist offering this service but they will become fully compliant with the relevant legislation only after the 1 October.
  • Fortified wine, when sold by the glass, may be sold in more modest measures of 50ml or 70ml.
A copy of the ‘guidance’ can be found here; the guidance primarily regurgitates the relevant draft order and gives a general background on why the government has chosen to implement the changes.  One piece of clear ‘guidance’ appears for those considering the sale of wine in quantities less than 175ml; the ‘guidance’ recommends that persons engaging in this practice still utilise a recognised and quantifiable measure such as 20ml, 25ml etc although a ‘free pour’ would be permissible after 1st October.


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