Bad news as it’s announced 'pints' of wine will be sold in UK for first time ever

Gavin and Stacey fans were left in stitches when 'Nessa' Jenkins ordered a 'pint... of wine' back on the much-loved sitcom back in 2007.

But it looks as though this horrific hangover-guarantee is about to become a startling reality for British drinkers, after Rishi Sunak’s government has spotted an opportunity to legalise the sale of wine by the pint once more.

As of 2024, still and sparkling wine can be bought in 200ml, 500ml and 586ml (technically a pint), alongside the already-sold existing measures.

So, Brits will soon be able to enjoy this colossal amount of grape juice, instead of having to buy multiple mini bottles or being over faced by a full size one.

Apparently, this controversial change - which was announced by the Department for Business and Trade on Wednesday (27 December), has been made possible by Brexit.

The reforms are said to ‘reduce burdensome regulations’ on alcoholic beverages as part of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023, which will increase business freedoms to sell alcohol in different manners.

Under the 1988 Weights and Measures Order, wine may only be legally sold in the UK in quantities ranging from the smallest at 100ml up to 10 litres.

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A standard sized bottle of wine 750ml - which tends to fill around six small glasses.

Whilst half-bottles at 375ml are already common purchases for Brits, the brand new pint measure would serve you an extra 68ml.

The announcement comes after around 100,000 people responded to a government consultation on whether they wanted to return more broadly to the old-fashioned imperial measurement system.

This would mean that we'd use age-old descriptions like inches, miles and gallons instead of the somewhat newly-coined metres, kilometres and litres.

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Whilst this hangover-induced news has sent thousands of UK vino-lovers wild - with many already making memes on social media - there is one issue, however, that is being overlooked.

It turns out, the government haven't yet persuaded anyone to make the pint-sized bottles.

And according to those working in the industry, no company would consider actually commissioning these particular sizes until the law permitting them is actually put into place.

One English winemaker - who wishes not to be named - this week told The Guardian that, 'no one is going to make a pint-sized bottle,' before dubbing the debate on imperial measures 'toxic'.

"In order to make a pint-sized bottle you’re going to have to invest a huge amount of money," he explained. "It’s a silly measure."

Well, that's us told...