A new study by British scientists hints at a possible new way to curb alcohol consumption. When pubs and bars in England removed the largest serving size of wine by the glass from their menus, patrons drank almost 8 percent less alcohol, according to a paper published in the journal PLOS Medicine.
The percentage may not seem significant, but the researchers say this small, easy-to-implement change could encourage people to drink less alcohol and improve overall public health.
Excessive alcohol consumption is linked to a range of health problems, from cancer to liver disease and depression, according to not only the researchers but also doctors everywhere. Excessive drinking is also responsible for about three million deaths worldwide each year, or 5.3 percent.
Previous studies have shown that a variety of environmental factors, including advertising and glass size, influence how much alcohol people drink. The researchers were curious to see if serving sizes in bars and pubs could affect how much alcohol they drink.
They partnered with 21 bars and pubs in England, who agreed to remove the largest serving size of wine by the glass — typically 250 milliliters, or about 8.5 ounces — from their menus for four weeks. Wine is the most popular alcoholic drink in the United Kingdom (surprisingly) and across Europe (predictably), so the researchers found it a great example.