Some venues and bartenders pour to the brim, while others provide a disappointing and disconcerting pour, resembling a glass already half empty. The situation is compounded by different venues using various sized wine glasses. John Furbank, from the Consumer’s Federation of Australia, said:
“A glass of wine is one of the few items that you purchase that you really don’t know what you’re getting for your money.”
In the survey, Fairfax Media visited 10 venues and ordered the house Shiraz, ranging from $7 to $11. The results showed a range of serving from 145ml to 190ml. A broader survey would have revealed even greater divergence, with some well-known Melbourne establishments serving as little as 100ml.
Mr Furbank is an advocate for standardised glasses for serving unpackaged wine, in order to prevent discrepancies. The introduction of glasses with a clear pour line, or plimsoll line, assist bartenders in measuring an accurate amount.
Consumer groups are concerned not only about value for money, but also in regard to overall alcohol consumption and the ability to drive. The National Measurement Institute has recently published a paper which proposes mandatory measurements for unpackaged wine.
Printing companies, in tandem with Packaging and glassware companies, may offer the best means to solve the dilemma by providing standardised glassware, with plimsoll lines, to venues adhering to sensible government regulations.
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