Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has had discussions with industry stakeholders on the pricing strategies of (a) alcohol-free drinks and (b) alcoholic beverages.

In Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, the Government has committed to tackling harmful levels of alcohol consumption through exploring options to encourage consumers to reduce their alcohol intake by substituting standard strength drinks with no- and low-alcohol alternatives. One of the first steps will be to explore raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV, aligning with international standards, to support the growth of the sector and provide clarity to consumers and producers.

At the same time, we will explore measures to regulate access to no- and low-alcohol products in line with other alcoholic beverages, including prohibiting sales to individuals under the age of 18 years old.

Manufacturers, retailers, and industry stakeholders have a key role to play in working with the Government to improve the health of the nation. Ministers and officials regularly engage with these groups when developing policy.