The facts
Just 14% of women drink beer in pubs compared to the 36% who drink wine. In the UK wine is fast becoming the choice drink among men and women along with fashionable cocktails. 'It’s a trend I have noticed on nights out and I think it’s been helped along by ‘Happy Hour’ prices where bottles of wine are £5 or £6 so more affordable.' Louise, Manchester.  

Which drinks pile on the pounds?
Part of a campaign to encourage beer drinking among women will address the popular belief that beer is fattening and setting the record straight about the calorie content of beer. As a twenty something who likes to socialise, and who is also body conscious, anything to do with dieting, interests me. I don’t like depriving myself of things I like so the possibility that beer is lass fattening than wine is good news!

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) have released the following figures to support their claims.
Calories per 100ml
Beer (4.6% alc): 41 calories
Wine (12% alc): 77 calories
Spirits: 250 calories
Milk: 64 calories
Orange juice: 42 calories
Apple juice: 47 calories
Source: BBPA

Beer bellies
However, people shouldn’t start reaching for another pint yet because it’s the lifestyle associated with drinking which could lead to weight problems and not the drink itself. As an appetite stimulant alcohol encourages people to eat and it affects what people eat and how much of it as they lose their self-control. Which is why a Saturday or Friday night out drinking often ends with a takeaway.

Mine’s a third please!
Brewers are re-introducing the ‘third’ measure which dates back to the Victorian times where it was used for very strong beers. The third which is between a pint and half pint will be served in special long stemmed glasses. It’s hoped that more elegant glasses will attract women who think pint glasses are ugly and impractical because they are difficult to carry.

Will the new campaign work?
It’s hard to say. The BBPA have carried out trials and are hopeful of the results. However, it’s not taking into consideration people's preferences or tastes. Some women find beer very gassy and filling and prefer non-carbonated wine regardless of what shape glass it’s served in or how many calories it contains. I myself prefer wine and am only an occasional beer drinker - usually on hot summer days when a cold beer is refreshing. And the British weather is one thing the BBPA have no control over - if they did, you never know things may be different!

Lucy
June 2005

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