Vivian Marlowe
Buckfast, a tonic wine created by monks in the 1880s, has a distinct reputation in the UK and Ireland. The drink, which blends herbs and caffeine with wine, has been associated with anti-social behaviour and violent crimes. Despite its notoriety, Buckfast remains a popular drink, with sales reaching record profits in 2016. The drink is typically sold in 750ml bottles, containing 15% ABV or 11.25 UK units of alcohol. A half-sized bottle of 350ml contains 5.25 units of alcohol.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol Content | 15% ABV |
| Volume | 750 ml (75 cl) or 350 ml (35 cl) |
| Number of Units | 11.25 units (75 cl) or 5.25 units (35 cl) |
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What You'll Learn
A 750ml bottle of Buckfast contains 11.25 UK units of alcohol
Buckfast, or Buckfast Tonic Wine, is a drink that was first developed in the 1880s by Benedictine monks who had fled persecution in France and settled at Buckfast Abbey in Devon. The drink has a distinct taste, likened to undiluted Ribena mixed with Benylin. It is made by blending herbs and caffeine with wine.
The drink has a relatively low alcohol content of 15%, or 14.8% in the version sold in the Republic of Ireland. A standard 750ml bottle of Buckfast contains 11.25 UK units of alcohol. Smaller bottles are also available, with the 350ml bottle containing 5.25 units of alcohol.
Buckfast has a controversial reputation in certain parts of the UK, particularly in Scotland, where it has been associated with antisocial behaviour and crime. Despite this, it remains a popular drink, with fans even setting up a "National Buckfast Day" to honour the tonic wine.
It is important to note that the UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that adults do not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week.
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The smaller 350ml bottle contains 5.25 units
Buckfast, a tonic wine created by monks, has a distinct reputation in the UK and Ireland. The drink contains caffeine and alcohol, a combination that has been associated with destructive behaviour. While the standard bottle size is 750ml, a smaller 350ml bottle is also available.
The 350ml bottle has an alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage of 15%, which is the same as the larger 750ml bottle. This means that the smaller bottle has a higher concentration of alcohol per millilitre, making it important to consume responsibly.
The name "Tonic Wine" does not imply health-giving or medicinal properties, and the drink has a high caffeine content of 30mg/100ml. It is not recommended for children, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women. While a glass a day is said to promote health and liveliness, it is important to follow the advice of medical professionals regarding alcohol consumption.
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Buckfast is a tonic wine with a high caffeine content
The drink was first developed in the 1880s or 1890s by Benedictine monks who had fled persecution in France and settled at Buckfast Abbey in Devon, England. It was originally sold as a medicine in small quantities with the slogan, "Three small glasses a day, for good health and lively blood". Over time, the recipe has changed, and the modern version now includes various flavourings and preservatives, along with a large dose of caffeine.
Buckfast has gained a reputation as a drink associated with anti-social behaviour and criminal activity, particularly in Scotland and among specific socioeconomic groups. It has been mentioned in thousands of crime reports, and there have been calls from politicians and social activists to ban or restrict its sale. Despite this negative perception, Buckfast remains a popular drink in certain communities, with fans even creating a National Buckfast Day (now World Buckfast Day) to celebrate the tonic wine.
The distributors of Buckfast, J. Chandler & Company, and the monks of Buckfast Abbey deny that their product is harmful and maintain that it is responsibly and legally enjoyed by the majority of purchasers. They attribute the issues of acute misuse to broader societal problems within economically deprived areas.
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It has been linked to crime and anti-social behaviour
A 750 ml bottle of Buckfast tonic wine contains 11.25 UK units of alcohol. The drink has been linked to crime and anti-social behaviour in Scotland, with politicians, police, and social activists singling it out as a significant contributor to social issues in certain communities.
In 2010, a BBC investigation revealed that Buckfast was mentioned in 5,638 crime reports in the Strathclyde area of Scotland between 2006 and 2009, an average of three mentions per day. Scottish Police reported 6,500 crimes related to the drink in 2017, with one in ten of those offences being violent. In the same period, a Buckfast bottle was used as a weapon 114 times. A survey at a Scottish young offenders' institution found that of the 117 people who drank alcohol before committing their crimes, 43% had consumed Buckfast.
The wine's high caffeine content, equivalent to eight cans of cola in a 750 ml bottle, is believed to act as a stimulant while removing inhibitions and self-control. This combination of alcohol and caffeine has been described as having "supernatural powers of destruction." The drink has been nicknamed "Wreck the Hoose Juice," "Commotion Lotion," and "Jakey Juice," reflecting its association with anti-social behaviour.
However, defenders of Buckfast argue that it is no more involved in crime than other alcoholic brands. They attribute the blame to the failure of politicians and police to address the underlying social issues and economic deprivation in the affected areas. The distributors have also denied the claims, stating that Buckfast represents less than one per cent of total alcohol sales in Scotland, and that it is responsibly and legally enjoyed by the majority of purchasers.
The controversy surrounding Buckfast highlights the complex interplay between societal issues, individual behaviour, and the role of various stakeholders in addressing alcohol-related harm. While Buckfast has become a scapegoat for broader social problems, it also underscores the need for comprehensive solutions that go beyond targeting a single product.
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The monks who make Buckfast deny their product is harmful
Buckfast is a tonic wine that was first developed in the 1880s or 1890s by Benedictine monks who had fled persecution in France and settled at Buckfast Abbey in Devon, England. The recipe is allegedly known to only one of the monks and is based on a traditional French recipe using mistellas (unfermented or partially fermented grape juice fortified with ethanol). The modern version of the drink contains various flavourings, preservatives, and a large dose of caffeine. It is marketed as a tonic with the slogan "Three small glasses a day, for good health and lively blood".
Despite the drink's association with health and medicine, it has become notorious in Scotland for its links to crime and anti-social behaviour. Between 2006 and 2009, Buckfast was mentioned in 5,638 crime reports in the Strathclyde area of Scotland, and in 2017, Scottish Police reported 6,500 crimes related to the drink in the previous two years. In 43% of cases where offenders had drunk alcohol before committing their crimes, Buckfast was the drink of choice. The drink has also been linked to violence, with 114 cases of Buckfast bottles being used as weapons in the Strathclyde area between 2006 and 2009.
Despite the evidence of Buckfast's role in crime and violence, the monks of Buckfast Abbey and their distribution partner, J. Chandler & Company, deny that their product is harmful. They argue that it is responsibly and legally enjoyed by the majority of purchasers and that the areas identified with its acute misuse have been economically deprived for decades. They also point out that Buckfast represents less than 1% of total alcohol sales across Scotland.
The monks have resisted calls to change the recipe by reducing the alcohol or caffeine content and have refused to switch from glass to plastic bottles to reduce glassing incidents. They have suggested that the drink's popularity in certain areas of Glasgow may be due to its similarity to communion wine, rather than any inherent qualities of the drink itself.
While the monks and their distributors have defended their product, they have also faced criticism and calls for the drink to be banned or made more expensive. In 2014, Buckfast began offering the drink in cans to reduce the number of bottle attacks and injuries in Scotland.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 11.25 UK units of alcohol in a 750ml bottle of Buckfast.
There are 5.25 UK units of alcohol in a 350ml bottle of Buckfast.
Buckfast has an alcohol by volume of 15%.
