Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of pubs adding service charges for the sale of alcohol without table service on consumers.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCCA) Act 2024 requires traders, including pubs, to display prices inclusive of all taxes and unavoidable charges before payment is made. Prices must be accurate and not misleading. Failure to do this may be taken as an unfair trading practice and constitute an offence.  Pubs can offer consumers a tipping facility to use should they wish to support the local pub and staff.

The department has no plans to assess the impact of any voluntary arrangements.