GPs are calling time on " problem pourers" who are overly generous when serving themselves an alcoholic drink or two at home.
The doctors will in future be armed with a special plastic glass in their surgeries which is marked to show the patient the accurate measure of a standard unit of wine or spirits.
The idea to issue the glasses came from the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), the professional body for family doctors. It follows increasing evidence that home drinkers are knocking back more alcohol than they realise.
Research has shown that home barmen and women who pour wine can give themselves their recommended daily allowance in just one glass.
They rarely use a measure at home and can end up getting carried away with potentially serious consequences for their health over time.
Dr Margaret O'Riordan, ICGP medical director, said: "We want to encourage patients to talk about how much they drink and to bring the conversation about alcohol from a subjective to a more accurate one in the general practice setting."
Source: Eilish O'Regan, Irish Independent, 13/02/14
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