LEEDS North West MP Greg Mulholland is leading a call for bars to bring back standard-size' wine glasses.

Mr Mulholland, whose constituency includes Pool-in-Wharfedale, Bramhope and Otl-ey, presented a bill to the House of Commons yesterday that would force bars to offer customers the choice of having 125ml sized glasses of wine.

The MP, concerned at the impact of heavy drinking on health, says the bill is an attempt to reverse a move by many drinking establishments to phase out the smaller measure in favour of 175ml and 250ml sized glasses.

It would amend current Weights and Measures legislation to make all on-trade' licensed premises offer the traditional 125ml measure.

As well as attracting the support of cross-party MPs, the bill is also being backed by Alcohol Concern, Tacade (which promotes young people's health and well being), and consumer organisations.

Mr Mulholland, a Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Health, said: "In the last few years there has been a deliberate move by many bar and pub companies to phase out the traditional standard size 125ml glass of wine, and only sell the larger 175ml and 250ml size. In the latter case this is almost half a pint of wine.

"The result, inevitably, has been that wine drinkers are less aware of how many units of alcohol they are drinking when they have a few of glasses of wine'.

"This is a real concern at a time when the figures show that alcohol related health problems are increasing, including with women who drink the majority of wine purchased in bars and pubs.

"What I am proposing is a very simple, sensible and effective measure that would help tackle a key public health issue at the same time as increasing consumer choice.

"I hope that these simple and straightforward proposals to help consumers will get the support of Government and the licensed trade alike."