Feature
Christmas 2017: Natural phenomena
Wine glass size in England from 1700 to 2017: a measure of our time

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Zorana Zupan, research associate, Alexandra Evans, MPhil student, Dominique-Laurent Couturier, senior statistician, Theresa M Marteau, director and professor of behaviour and health

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Wine glass capacity in England has increased sevenfold in 300 years. Can downsizing reduce wine consumption? Theresa Marteau and colleagues investigate

Wine, mistletoe’s seasonal partner,1 may be a feature of some rather merry Christmas nights, particularly for women.2 As we approach the culturally legitimised deviancy of festive drinking, we suggest that size does matter: look at the wine glass in your hand.

A sharp rise in wine consumption

Alcohol’s adverse effects are well documented: it is the fifth largest risk factor for premature mortality and disability in high income countries and the seventh largest worldwide.3 The amount and form of alcohol consumption in England has fluctuated over the past 300 years, largely in response to economic, legislative, and social factors.4 Until the later 20th century the forms most commonly drunk were beer and spirits, as wine was for the richer Scrooges rather than the poorer Cratchits.45 Alcohol consumption in general then started to increase, and wine consumption rose almost fourfold during 1960-80, almost doubling again during 1980-2004.4

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