§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade arid Industry what arrangements will apply in future in Great Britain for measuring spirits for consumption on licensed premises; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthHaving considered the responses to my department's consultation paper, I have concluded that the present range of imperial quantities of 1/6, 1/5 and ¼ gill for serving whisky, gin rum and vodka should be replaced by a single round metric quantity of 25ml.
A single metric measure throughout Great Britain would have the advantage of enabling consumers to compare prices and monitor their alcohol consumption more easily. It would also allow instrument manufacturers to make economies of scale. Licensees should find the new quantity more convenient since it is an exact fraction of the bottle.
I therefore intend to lay in draft an order which would permit the four major spirits to be served in this new metric quantity from the middle of next year and would prohibit the use of the imperial quantities for this purpose from 1 January 1995.