From the archives: ‘Nip’ must be a fifth of a gill

THE “nip” of whisky as a measure is to remain in Lanarkshire, but it must be one fifth of a gill.

Constable of the County, Mr Thomas Renfrew, wanted the “nip” banned, but it was intimated at Lanark Burgh Licensing Court yesterday that representatives of the county’s licensing courts, the licensed trade and the police had met privately the previous day. Their recommendation to the trade was that the glass of whisky, otherwise the “double” should measure half a gill, the “half” a quarter of a gill, and the “nip” a fifth of a gill. Notices to this effect are to be exhibited in all licensed premises.

In reply to Bailie James Urquhart, who wanted to know if it would not be better to do away with the “nip” altogether, the chief constable said: “This now gives it definite relation to the gill, whereas before some licence-holders were giving one-fifth and others one-sixth and charging the same price.”

• archive.scotsman.com