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Wine glass size and wine sales: four replication studies in one restaurant and two bars

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Peer-reviewed

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Abstract

Objective. Previous research suggests that wine glass size affects sales of wine in bars, with more wine purchased when served in larger glasses. The current four studies, conducted in one restaurant (Studies 1&2) and two bars (Studies 3&4) in Cambridge, England, aim to establish the reproducibility of this effect of glass size on sales. A multiple treatment reversal design was used, involving wine being served in sequential fortnightly periods in different sized glasses of the same design (290ml, 350ml, and 450ml). The primary outcome was daily wine volume (ml) sold. Results. Restaurant: Daily wine volume sold was 13% (95% CI: 2%,24%) higher when served with 350ml vs. 290ml glasses in Study 1. A similar direction of effect was seen in Study 2 (6%; 95% CI: -1%,15%). Bars: Daily wine volume sold was 21% (95% CI: 9%,35%) higher when served with 450ml vs. 350ml glasses in Study 3. This effect was not observed in Study 4 (-7%, 95% CI: -16%,3%). Meaningful differences were not demonstrated with any other glass comparison. These results partially replicate previous studies showing that larger glasses increase wine sales. Considerable uncertainty remains about the magnitude of any effect and the contexts in which it might occur.

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Keywords

Alcohol, Bar, Glass size, Multiple treatment reversal design, Purchasing, Replication, Restaurant, Sales, Wine, Alcohol Drinking, Commerce, Consumer Behavior, Cooking and Eating Utensils, England, Glass, Humans, Portion Size, Restaurants, Wine

Journal Title

BMC Research Notes

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Journal ISSN

1756-0500
1756-0500

Volume Title

12

Publisher

BioMed Central
Sponsorship
Department of Health (PRP number 107001)
Wellcome Trust (106679/Z/14/Z)
Wellcome Trust (206853/Z/17/Z)
This report is independent research commissioned and funded by the National Institute for Health Research Policy Research Programme (Policy Research Unit in Behaviour and Health (PR-UN-0409-10109: PI: Theresa Marteau)). Additional funding was provided by Wellcome Trust for Natasha Clarke’s salary (a Collaborative Award in Science from Wellcome Trust (Behaviour Change by Design: 206853/Z/17/Z: PIs: Theresa Marteau, Paul Fletcher, Gareth Hollands and Marcus Munafò) and Rachel Pechey’s salary (a Wellcome Research Fellowship in Society and Ethics [106679/Z/14/Z]).