JDW will be first pub chain to show drinks calories

Calorie information for all pub giant JD Wetherspoon’s (JDW) drinks will be shown on its menu and website for the first time from next month.

The pub company, which has more than 900 sites across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, will be the first pub group in the UK to make the move.

JDW boss Tim Martin emphasised the importance of consumers being aware of what they are eating and drinking.

As much information as possible

He said: “We want our customers to have as much information as possible so they can make informed decisions about the food and drink they enjoy in our pubs.”

Last January council chiefs called for calorie labelling on bottles and cans of alcoholic drinks in a bid to help combat obesity.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said while the long-term health effects of drinking are relatively well-known, the number of hidden calories contained in alcohol were not.

The body, which represents more than 370 British councils, said consumers should be given all of the insight to make more informed choices when it comes to eating and drinking out.

Calorie labelling not top of consumers' priorities

In March, research from Mintel warned calorie labelling on pub food menus could be irrelevant as it was not at the top of consumers’ priorities when looking for nutritional guidance.

However, JDW has listed the calories of all of its meals since 2011 and in 2014 the pub group launched an under-500 calorie section.

Martin said that after being the first pub company to highlight the number of calories on all of its meals, the logical next step was to do the same for all of its drinks.