Some people might contend that it's not part of the Government's role to decide what size of measures pubs should serve us our wine in. That, though, is what a West Yorkshire MP wants it to do. Greg Mulholland is calling for the return of the 125ml measure, which in recent years has given way to the 175ml measure as a "standard" glass with many pubs offering the alternative of a 250ml measure.

Mr Mulholland's Sale of Wine (Measures) Bill, though, is not quite the example of the "nanny state" that some will claim it to be. He is not advocating smaller glasses. He is merely urging that drinkers be given the option of having a smaller measure in their standard glass.

The pub trade is unlikely to welcome his intervention. By establishing the 175ml as "standard", at a proportionately higher price, it ensures that more wine is sold and that takings are increased. However, this measure hike has coincided with an increase in the strength of many wines, making it difficult for drinkers to know just how many units they are consuming. Most still believe that a single 175ml glass of wine equals one unit of alcohol, whereas in fact it contains 1.5 units.

At a time when there are concerns about an increase in drink-related health problems, and when some drivers continue to drink wine within what they believe to be the one-glass recommended limit, anything which enables people to moderate their consumption and keep a more accurate tally of their intake is to be welcomed.