Vin in a can: Mini bottles out

THEY have become very popular as health-conscious drinkers try to rein in their alcohol intake.

Now miniature wine bottles are being canned and replaced by tins at Waitrose – which have larger servings.

The chain claims the changeover is a first for a British supermarket, and says it will cut carbon emissions from transporting heavier glass.

But the move comes at a cost to shoppers, as it has emerged they will be paying more ‘drop by drop’ for the new tins.

Miniature bottles contain 18.7cl of wine – a quarter of a normal 75cl bottle – while the cans will come in 20cl or 25cl servings.

Historically, Waitrose charged £2.39 for the mini 18.7cl bottle of Beefsteak Club Malbec, while the new 25cl cans will cost £3.49. This means a customer gets 33.6 per cent more wine and pays 46 per cent more.

The move applies to all wines except champagne, prosecco, cava and rioja, which rules state must be sold in glass.

Waitrose’s Barry Dick said: ‘Aluminium cans weigh significantly less than glass and create less than half the amount of CO2 than the equivalent glass bottle. Picking up a can of wine is a great way to enjoy wine in moderation, especially if you’re heading to a picnic or a social occasion.’