Sips measures reinstated

A London sommelier has won a huge victory for wine lovers by persuading ministers to scrap laws that barred bars and restaurants from selling wine by the sip. In 2007 council inspectors stopped Dawn Davies from Selfridge's Wonder Bar offering top vintages in tiny 25ml measures. They told her the sips, which had cost as much as £32 for prized Château Pétrus, were in breach of the 1988 Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order, specifying that wine can only be sold in 125ml, 175ml and 250ml glasses.

After 5 years of lobbying the laws have now been amended. The sip measure - a fifth of a normal small glass of wine - is now back on sale at Selfridges with prices starting from £1. The original Wonder Bar list had offered 52 wines in 25ml, 75ml and 135ml measures from its calibrated Enomatic system, which disgorges shots of wine in the manner of optics.

The amendment effectively means that pubs and restaurants can now sell wine in any measure they like below 75ml.