The Laws of Port Consumption
The Laws of Port Consumption
Two new Laws have been established to assist Port drinkers avoid the more unpleasant after-effects of excessive consumption:
Rule 1: Wiseman's Rule
You must drink a combination of alcohol and water at no more than 4% volume. Thus, if one consumes 25cl of Port at 20% volume one must drink 1 litre of water to maintain equilibrium.
Rule 2: Turnbull's Rule
You must drink a combination of alcohol and water at no more than 4% volume. Thus, if one consumes 1 litre of water, one must consume 25cl of Port at 20% volume to maintain equilibrium.
I hope you find at least one of these laws useful.
Derek
Rule 1: Wiseman's Rule
You must drink a combination of alcohol and water at no more than 4% volume. Thus, if one consumes 25cl of Port at 20% volume one must drink 1 litre of water to maintain equilibrium.
Rule 2: Turnbull's Rule
You must drink a combination of alcohol and water at no more than 4% volume. Thus, if one consumes 1 litre of water, one must consume 25cl of Port at 20% volume to maintain equilibrium.
I hope you find at least one of these laws useful.
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- uncle tom
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3559
- Joined: 22:43 Wed 20 Jun 2007
- Location: Near Saffron Walden, England
Re: The Laws of Port Consumption
Rule 3: Archer's rule
Just drink and fall down - tomorrow is another day..
Tom
Just drink and fall down - tomorrow is another day..



Tom
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
Re: The Laws of Port Consumption
Rule 4: Ghi's Rule
If you pour it, you shall drink it! Unless it's not true port in which case this rule can be considered on a case by case basis.
If you pour it, you shall drink it! Unless it's not true port in which case this rule can be considered on a case by case basis.
Disclosure: Distributor of Quevedo wines and Quinta do Gomariz
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15922
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: The Laws of Port Consumption
Rule 5 - Bridgeman's Law of Equilibrium
Consume no more than two glasses of port in a single evening.
Rule 6 - Bridgeman's Rule of Preparedness
Always have a large variety of glass sizes available, with the largest being no smaller than 150cl in capacity.
Consume no more than two glasses of port in a single evening.
Rule 6 - Bridgeman's Rule of Preparedness
Always have a large variety of glass sizes available, with the largest being no smaller than 150cl in capacity.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
- Michael M.
- Quinta do Noval LBV
- Posts: 244
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- Location: Germany
Re: The Laws of Port Consumption
Not a rule, more like a consideration based on being interested in scientific matters.
May one consider human liver as a kind of muscle capable of beeing trained (?).
May one consider human liver as a kind of muscle capable of beeing trained (?).
Shut Up 'N Drink Yer Port
- oscar quevedo
- Fonseca LBV
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Re: The Laws of Port Consumption
If you comply with Rule 4 and Rule 6 with a 25 cl capacity, and at the same time with Rule 1 or Rule 2 and with Rule 5, it means you are just using around 62% of all the capacity of your stomach, which is 4 liters.
You are being inefficient... So you will hardly comply with Rule 3...
I suggest a revision of the Rules..
You are being inefficient... So you will hardly comply with Rule 3...

I suggest a revision of the Rules..

Oscar Quevedo, http://quevedoportwine.com/
Re: The Laws of Port Consumption
Here is a practical application of Rule 2 that will combat the scenario described by Oscar:oscar quevedo wrote:If you comply with Rule 4 and Rule 6 with a 25 cl capacity, and at the same time with Rule 1 or Rule 2 and with Rule 5, it means you are just using around 62% of all the capacity of your stomach, which is 4 liters.
You are being inefficient... So you will hardly comply with Rule 3...![]()
I suggest a revision of the Rules..
1. Drink 4 litres of water and 1 litre of Port over a 3 hour period.
2. Drain 1 litre from the bladder
3. Drink 1 litre of water and 250cl of port over the next hour
4. Drain 1 litre from the bladder
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 above until invoking Rule 3

"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: The Laws of Port Consumption
The Quevedo Corollary to Rule 6: the assortment of glass sizes available must be such that obeying rules 1, 2, 4, and 5 will invoke rule 3.oscar quevedo wrote:If you comply with Rule 4 and Rule 6 with a 25 cl capacity, and at the same time with Rule 1 or Rule 2 and with Rule 5, it means you are just using around 62% of all the capacity of your stomach, which is 4 liters.
You are being inefficient... So you will hardly comply with Rule 3...![]()
I suggest a revision of the Rules..
Glenn Elliott
Re: The Laws of Port Consumption
ugh, not adhereing to Rule #1 leads to a bad day.
Disclosure: Distributor of Quevedo wines and Quinta do Gomariz
Re: The Laws of Port Consumption
I've swear by Milk Thistle - Jancis Robinson recommended it on her site years ago - which helps avoid any nastiness the next day. I suppose this is rule #7 - Always take a tablet before your first glass...