Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what role her Department has had in the Department for Health and Social Care’s consideration of banning the sale of low and no alcohol products to under 18s.

In Fit for the Future, a 10-Year Health Plan for England, the Government committed to explore options to restrict access to no- and low-alcohol products so they are treated in the same ways as all alcohol products, including banning sales to under 18 year-olds. The Department of Health and Social Care is leading policy consideration of this commitment.

Engagement sessions, where this commitment was discussed, with public health stakeholders, producers and retailers have recently concluded. DHSC officials are reviewing the insights and evidence gathered from these sessions to inform policy development and determine next steps. The Home Office is contributing to their work as the department responsible for the Licensing Act 2003.The sale or supply of products not exceeding 0.5% ABV is not a licensable activity under the Act.