Glass shape determines how much we pour

The shape and size of the wine glasses we use and how they are held determines how much wine we pour into them, research has found.

A study carried out by researchers at Iowa State University in the US has found that 12% more wine is poured into a wide glass compared to a standard one.

The colour of the wine also seems to influence the size of the pour with an average of 9% more white wine poured into a glass than red, due to red wine’s greater colour contrast to clear glass.

Participants in the study were asked to pour what they considered to be a normal measure of wine using different types of glassware in various settings.

“If you ask someone how much they drink and they report it in a number of servings, for a self-pour that’s just not telling the whole story,” said Dr. Doug Walker, who led the study.

“One person’s two is totally different than another person’s two,” he added.

The study also found that the way a wine glass is held can determine how much wine is poured in each serving, with an average of 12% more wine given when a glass is held rather than on the table.

The findings were published in the journal Substance Use & Misuse.