Wetherspoons boss slams Cambridge Uni researchers proposal for 'smaller pints'
Tim Martin says the idea of serving 'Schooners' instead of 'Pints' is "a bit daft"
Tim Martin, the chairman of pub giant JD Wetherspoon, has sharply criticized a recent proposal by Cambridge University academics to serve beer in two-third pint measures, known as schooners, instead of traditional pints.
Labeling the suggestion as "slightly daft," Martin argued that such a move would not effectively reduce alcohol consumption in pubs and might inadvertently encourage more people to drink at home.
The study from Cambridge University, published last month, urged the government to consider smaller glass sizes as a means to curb excessive drinking.
However, speaking in the pub chain's annual results - released today, Martin dismissed the idea, pointing out that the use of schooners in countries like Australia has not led to "any noticeable reduction in consumption."
"Common sense indicates that reducing glass sizes is unlikely, due to human nature, to reduce alcohol consumption in pubs," Martin stated. "It would also have no effect whatsoever on drinks bought in supermarkets, unless container sizes in supermarkets were also, unrealistically, reduced."
Martin also addressed rumors that the government might consider reducing pub and hospitality opening hours—a notion that Labour ministers have since denied.
"Neither of these proposals would seem to pass the common-sense test," he added.
What Do the Scientists Say?
Cambridge University researchers, led by Professor Dame Theresa Marteau from the Behaviour and Health Research Unit, claim that reducing the serving size for beer, lager, and cider in pubs, bars, and restaurants can lower alcohol consumption, which could offer significant public health benefits.
In their study, published in PLOS Medicine, the team found that removing the pint and offering two-thirds as the largest option led to a 9.7% reduction in the daily mean volume of beer, lager, and cider sold.
While wine sales saw a slight increase, driven primarily by one venue, the intervention demonstrated that customers did not complain about the change in glass size.
Marteau highlighted the broader implications of this finding: “Alcohol harms our health, increasing the risk of injury and many diseases including heart disease, bowel, breast, and liver cancers. While we may all enjoy a drink, the less we drink, the better our health.”
This experiment follows earlier research where smaller wine glasses were linked to reduced wine sales. The scientists suggest that eliminating pints could similarly encourage people to drink less. While further study is needed to assess if customers compensate by drinking other types of alcohol, the intervention shows promise and could play a role in future alcohol control policies aimed at improving public health.