Nearly 3/4 of adults underestimate amount of wine in a 250ml glass, study finds

Nearly three-quarters of adults underestimate what 250ml of wine poured into a glass looks like, research from Direct Line Motor Insurance has found.

When a glass of wine is poured out, people tend to underestimate how much liquid it actually contains, a new study has revealed. It gives credence to the popular ‘home pour’ theory, whereby people may fix themselves a larger drink than they would receive in a pub, bar or restaurant.

When shown an image of a large glass of wine, containing a third of a bottle, 70% of those polled said they thought the serving was a small or medium glass size.

And when participants were shown a double measure of gin in a glass, just 22% identified the amount correctly. ‘

Direct Line’s research also found that 40% of people never checked the amount of alcohol they poured at home. The survey was completed by 2,000 people.

Andrew Misell of Alcohol Change UK commented on the findings, “we’ve seen a big shift in drinking habits in recent years with more and more of us drinking at home.

“But, as this study has shown, many people are unsure of the size of the drinks they’re pouring themselves, and often underestimate how much they’re having.

“This can lead to them drinking more than they intended without realising.

“If you’re drinking at home, it’s smart to get in the habit of checking the units in your drinks, keeping a running tally, and staying under 14 units a week.”

Researchers from the University of Cambridge recently found that the use of smaller glasses lead to a modest decline in overall wine consumption among adults in the United Kingdom.

The study found that consumption declined by 6.5% when the wine was served in smaller glasses.