Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to conduct a formal consultation on uprating the descriptor ‘alcohol-free’ from 0.05% ABV to 0.5% ABV, in line with international standards.

In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government committed to consult on raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV. The Government also committed to explore options to restrict access to alcohol-free and low alcohol products, so they are treated in the same ways as all alcohol products, including banning sales to children aged under 18 years old.

Engagement sessions, where these two commitments were discussed, with public health stakeholders, producers and retailers, have recently concluded.

Departmental officials are reviewing the insights and evidence gathered from these sessions, and the evidence base more generally, to inform policy development and determine next steps. We will update stakeholders in due course.