Alcohol sold in "test tubes" have come under criticism in the UK, but an industry ethics group cleared the concept.

A liquor trade group in the United Kingdom has given its OK to alcoholic beverages served in long, narrow “test tubes.” The Portman Group, established by UK liquor producers to promote responsible marketing and consumption of alcohol, considered the issue of the test-tube shot, a popular form of alcohol packaging in Scotland that contains about 20 milliliters per tube. Portman took up the issue after Alcohol Focus Scotland, a charity that combats alcoholism, brought complaints against four test-tube alcohol brands. Portman’s guidelines forbid companies from urging consumers to drink liquor rapidly or “down in one.” However, the organization found that while liquor in test tubes is in fact usually drunk all at once, this is a function of the small volume of liquor rather than the nature of the package.