Chef brands drink laws 'archaic'

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A top UK chef has branded licensing laws "archaic" after having to withdraw a meal offer because it included too little wine.

The Abode restaurant chain, run by Michael Caines, was warned its tasting-sized measures were breaking the law.

The Michelin-starred chef expressed frustration at a time when he said his industry was under pressure to help reduce alcohol consumption.

The UK Government said it was currently looking into the general issue.

Mr Caines' wine deal was part of a special meal offer that clearly stated wines were of a smaller sized measure than normal.

We, and the industry, are hugely frustrated by the current legislation Michael CainesChef

However, police warned him it contravened the Weights and Measures Act - which stipulates wine has to be served in glasses of at least 125, 175 or 250ml.

The offer has now been withdrawn from Mr Caines' restaurants in Glasgow, Canterbury and Manchester.

Speaking at his Glasgow restaurant, the chef told BBC Scotland: "A lot of people don't want to drink 125ml at lunchtime. We, and the industry, are hugely frustrated by the current legislation.

"We're under pressure to reduce the amount of alcohol people consume. When you're talking about drinking with food, I think we should encourage smaller measures.

"Surely it's a good thing to encourage people to eat and drink sensibly."

Opinion was mixed among customers at Abode in Glasgow.

One diner, Ishbel Peel, said, "I think it would be a good idea. It would give people a bit of wine but allow them to drink responsibly."

But another, Fiona Williamson disagreed, adding: "If you're having anything less than 125mls, it's not worth having as far as I'm concerned."

A spokesperson for the Department of Trade and Industry said the government was actively looking at the issue of wine tasting, adding that the Abode restaurants were not the only ones wanting to serve wine in measures smaller than 125ml.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said it was concerned about a drift towards larger - not smaller - standard measures of alcohol.