A recent study conducted by researchers at Cambridge University has suggested that serving beer and cider in smaller glasses in the United Kingdom could potentially reduce alcohol consumption and related harm. The study found that offering a 2/3 pint as the largest serving size led to a 10 percent decrease in beer and cider consumption in pubs, bars, and restaurants.
However, Alcohol Healthwatch in Aotearoa expressed skepticism about implementing a similar approach in New Zealand, stating that it may not have a significant impact due to the higher rate of home-based drinking in the country. Instead, they recommended focusing on measures such as increasing prices of alcohol in supermarkets and liquor stores to address alcohol-related harm.
Andrew Galloway, the executive director of Alcohol Healthwatch, emphasized the importance of price control measures and minimum unit pricing to reduce the availability of cheap alcohol and mitigate harm. He also suggested coupling minimum unit pricing with an increase in excise tax to address the estimated $9.1 billion cost of alcohol harm in New Zealand.
While Hospitality New Zealand shared similar views on the limited effectiveness of reducing alcohol serving sizes, they highlighted the positive trend of declining alcohol consumption per capita in New Zealand since 1986. They also noted that New Zealand does not have a standardized measure for a ‘pint’ like the UK, with most servings being smaller than the British measure.
Overall, the debate around serving sizes and alcohol consumption continues, with differing perspectives on the most effective strategies to address alcohol-related harm in both the UK and New Zealand.
